The Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatitis, bilateral feet is dismissed. The claim to reopen a back disability is denied as no new and material evidence has been received. Service connection for sinusitis (claimed as congestion) is granted. The claims for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's dermatitis, bilateral feet claim was dismissed due to withdrawal of the claim by his attorney prior to a decision being made. The back disability claim was denied finality because no new and material evidence was received within one year of the April 2012 rating decision. Service connection for sinusitis (claimed as congestion) is granted based on Gulf War exposure. Right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded to clarify their etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- dermatitis, bilateral feet, back disability, sinusitis (claimed as congestion), right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 1, 2021
- Citation
- 21071628
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 21071628.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the July 2012 VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability, and a new addendum opinion is needed.
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