The Veteran's liver disability claim is remanded. Tinnitus service connection is granted, but a rating greater than 10 percent for left ankle disability and whether a separate rating is warranted for neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities are also remanded.
The deciding factor: New evidence was received that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim of liver disability. The Veteran's tinnitus has been found to be etiologically related to service, but the left ankle and upper extremity neuropathy issues remain unresolved.
- Claimed conditions
- liver disability, tinnitus, diabetic nephropathy, diabetes mellitus, left ankle disability, PTSD
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- November 18, 2020
- Citation
- 20073821
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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