Service connection is granted for tinnitus and Parkinson's disease due to exposure to herbicides. Service connection is also granted for other trauma and stressor related disorder. Obstructive sleep apnea will be remanded as secondary to the service-connected condition.,The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have been incurred during service, with service connection granted based on direct evidence of a current disability and in-service incurrence or aggravation. Service connection for Parkinson's disease is granted due to exposure to herbicides, which is presumed under VA regulations. The Veteran's other trauma and stressor related disorder is also granted as it is found to be at least as likely as not incurred during service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's other trauma and stressor related disorder based on credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors and clinical manifestations of the condition. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea will be remanded as secondary to the service-connected psychiatric disorder, which requires further clarification regarding its etiology.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being remanded due to a lack of clear and unmistakable evidence that it was not incurred during service. The issue will require additional medical opinion on whether the condition is related to his service-connected other trauma and stressor related disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's tinnitus began during service, with no evidence of pre-service onset or aggravation.,Parkinson's disease was diagnosed post-service but presumed due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The VA examiner found the Veteran had a current diagnosis and credible supporting evidence for the claimed stressors.,Other trauma and stressor related disorder is granted based on clinical manifestations, credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors, and the Veteran's history of service.,Obstructive sleep apnea was not incurred during service but may be secondary to his service-connected other trauma and stressor related disorder. Further clarification is needed regarding its etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- tinnitus, Parkinson's disease, other trauma and stressor related disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2023
- Citation
- 23063049
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 23063049.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- 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).
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, cubital tunnel syndrome, right plantar fasciitis, and a right knee disability due to the lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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