Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for valvular heart disease, peripheral vascular disease of the right and left legs, and hypertension were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

valvular heart disease · peripheral vascular disease (right leg) · peripheral vascular disease (left leg) · hypertension

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his myocardial infarction and COPD to his military service.

Myocardial infarction · Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The Board granted direct service connection for PTSD based on stressful events during active service. It separately granted service connection for insomnia/sleep disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder as secondary to PTSD.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Insomnia/sleep disorder · Unspecified anxiety disorder

The Board dismissed all issues on appeal as the May 2024 rating decision was a purely ministerial implementation of the April 2024 Board decision.

right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve · left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve · right lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve · left lower extremity radiculopathy of the femoral nerve

The Board denied higher initial ratings for both knee disabilities and the right knee scar, and denied earlier effective dates for their service connection.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome · Linear superior lateral and linear superior medial right knee scar, residual of diagnostic arthroscopy

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the conditions are presumed to have been incurred in service due to continuous symptoms since service.

bilateral hearing loss · tinnitus

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for pension benefits, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of January 8, 2020 for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected chronic seronegative myasthenia gravis and hoarseness.

chronic seronegative myasthenia gravis · hoarseness

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lymphedema, which may be related to Agent Orange exposure or service-connected conditions.

lymphedema

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with psychotic features is granted a 100% disability rating from October 8, 2019 to September 12, 2021 due to persistent hallucinations.

Major depressive disorder with psychotic features

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in the Republic of Vietnam.

hypertension

The Board has granted recognition of C. and H. as the Veteran's dependent children for VA compensation purposes based on their birth certificates showing they are biological children under 18 years old.

The Veteran's dependent child was restored to his award of VA disability compensation, and the appeal is dismissed as there are no longer any issues for review.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.

diabetes mellitus · prostate cancer · ischemic heart disease · right lower extremity peripheral artery disease · left lower extremity peripheral artery disease · hypertension

The Board granted service connection for ischemic heart disease based on presumed herbicide exposure from qualifying Vietnam service.

ischemic heart disease

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not obtain all necessary opinions regarding whether the Veteran's symptoms are related to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI). The claims for service connection for fatigue, fibromyalgia, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, and sleep disorder are remanded for further development.

fatigue · fibromyalgia · left elbow disorder · right elbow disorder · sleep disorder

The Veteran's PTSD rating was reduced from 70 percent to 50 percent, effective February 20, 2025. The Board finds the reduction improper and restores the 70 percent disability rating for PTSD.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Tension Headaches · Lumbosacral Strain with IVDS and Bilateral Sacroiliac Joint Arthritis · Sciatic and Femoral Radiculopathy of the Right Lower Extremity · Sciatic and Femoral Radiculopathy of the Left Lower Extremity · Cervical Strain · Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with Gastrointestinal (GI) Dysmotility Syndrome · Residuals, Multiple Fractures, Bones Left Foot, with Degenerative Arthritis

The Board granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability related to military service, and for left and right leg radiculopathy secondary to that lumbar disability.

lumbar spine disability · left lower extremity radiculopathy · right lower extremity radiculopathy

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied prior to March 31, 2025 and from that date onwards. Ratings for his right knee strain with osteoarthritis, left knee strain with osteoarthritis, right knee instability, and left knee instability are also denied.

Degenerative disc disease of the L4-L5 lumbar spine · Spondylosis deformans of the lumbar spine and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) with degenerative arthritis

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as the appellant withdrew their request for a hearing and to continue with the appeal.

papillary urothelial carcinoma · muscle invasive status post cystectomy · neobladder with prostate cancer residuals · chronic kidney disease