The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left calf disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current left calf disability other than his already service-connected left lower extremity neuritis with aggravated leg cramps. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 18, 2011, was also denied due to the fact that it is not factually ascertainable he became unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during this period. His claim for TDIU based on multiple service-connected disabilities from July 18, 2011 onwards remains moot as his combined rating already meets the criteria.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left calf symptoms are part of his already service-connected left lower extremity neuritis with aggravated leg cramps and do not constitute a separate disability. The Veteran did not become unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the relevant period prior to July 18, 2011.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity neuritis with aggravated leg cramps, chronic body wide rash, sleep apnea, chronic dry mouth, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), enlarged tongue, headache, memory loss and cognitive disability, sleep tremors, REM sleep behavior disorder, right leg cramping, left leg cramping
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2023
- Citation
- 23064296
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 23064296.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination to determine if his current sleep disorder is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
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