The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity weakness, scar tissue of the throat (including difficulty swallowing), cardiac condition including atrial fibrillation and pre-ventricular contractions, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, and prostate injury causing erectile dysfunction are not service-connected.,The Board finds that these conditions were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's additional disabilities were proximately caused by VA clinicians' improper diagnosis or lack of treatment. The weight of competent medical evidence indicates these conditions are reasonably foreseeable outcomes for which the Veteran received informed consent.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral lower extremity weakness, Scar tissue of the throat, to include difficulty swallowing, Cardiac condition including atrial fibrillation and pre-ventricular contractions, Bladder dysfunction, Bowel dysfunction, Prostate injury causing erectile dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 17, 2023
- Citation
- 23045692
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 23045692.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
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- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected Parkinsonism, as it meets the criteria for such benefits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for bowel dysfunction and ED due to insufficient evidence, including the need for additional medical opinions.
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