The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a respiratory disability have been granted. The claim for residuals of bilateral foot frostbite injuries or cold exposure is still pending.,An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, and mental manifestations of Parkinson's disease is also pending.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s low back disability onset during active service. The respiratory disability was linked to in-service exposure to toxins including herbicide agents.,VA treatment records have not been uploaded since July 2017, and updated private treatment records for the remanded disabilities must be obtained.
- Claimed conditions
- Low Back Disability, Respiratory Disability (Asthma and/or COPD), Bilateral Foot Frostbite Injuries or Cold Exposure Manifested by Chronic Swelling of the Feet
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21015097
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 21015097.
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 has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as there is no persuasive evidence of current diagnoses or in-service incurrence or aggravation.
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