The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board granted initial compensable ratings for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, and coccyx strain. The appeal of the gastrointestinal disability was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for left index finger nerve damage and sleep disturbances at a hearing before the Board. His other claims were adjudicated based on the evidence of record.
- Claimed conditions
- left index finger nerve damage, sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal disability, GERD and acid reflux, major depressive disorder, coccyx strain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20008379
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20008379.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded due to a failure to verify a stressor related to the death of his two best friends in Iraq. The AOJ needs to develop this stressor.
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