The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, left thigh varicose veins, lumbosacral strain (secondary to bilateral pes planus), and right Achilles tendonitis have all been granted.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's current conditions based on exposure to particulate matter during service in Southwest Asia.
The deciding factor: The Veteran was exposed to fine, particulate matter during his service in Southwest Asia, which qualifies him for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.,The Veteran experienced a psychiatric stressor and symptoms in service, as well as continuous symptoms since service. His current adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is related to these factors.
- Claimed conditions
- allergic rhinitis, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, left thigh varicose veins, lumbosacral strain, right Achilles tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2024
- Citation
- 24000731
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,604 · Granted: 65% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24000731.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for asthma and a 10 percent rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities were dismissed. The claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for eczema was denied, while the claim of entitlement to allergic rhinitis was not addressed as it pertained to different issues.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of SMC based on aid and attendance.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, along with alcohol use disorder, has been granted a 100% evaluation effective from April 8, 2021. The disability causes total occupational and social impairment.
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