The Veteran's alcohol use disorder is granted on a secondary basis.,An effective date prior to April 29, 2014, for the award of service connection for sinus headaches has been denied.,For the appellate period prior to November 3, 2016, an initial compensable rating for sinus headaches was denied.,Beginning November 3, 2016, a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for sinus headaches is granted.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent but no higher for left foot drop is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral Morton's neuroma and tinnitus are denied.,TDIU based solely on service-connected PDD is granted for the entire period on appeal.,Beginning November 3, 2016, SMC at the housebound rate is granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's alcohol use disorder is aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. The effective date for the award of service connection for sinus headaches has been denied due to lack of a formal claim prior to April 29, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- alcohol use disorder, sinus headaches, left foot drop, bilateral Morton's neuroma, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2023
- Citation
- 23005595
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 23005595.
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 remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, arthritis, and memory loss. The decision found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The issues of foot disability and cardiovascular disorder are remanded for additional development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.
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