The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including bilateral ankle and pes planus, bilateral knee and low back, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, and a TDIU. The Veteran's obesity claim was dismissed.
The deciding factor: The August 2022 private examiner provided opinions that the Veteran's disabilities were related to his active duty service or secondary to other service-connected conditions, making these opinions highly probative on the issue of etiology.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral ankle disability, Bilateral pes planus, Bilateral knee disability, Low back disability, Acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), Erectile dysfunction, Obstructive sleep apnea
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 9, 2024
- Citation
- 24001286
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.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of November 5, 2021, for the grants of service connection and eligibility for DEA benefits.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The veteran's bad conduct discharge precludes eligibility for VA benefits, including compensation and healthcare.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 29, 2019 for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder but denied earlier effective dates and increased ratings for other conditions.
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