The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and tinnitus, while denying service connection for various other disabilities including the right ankle, left ankle, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, heart, respiratory, kidney, venous thrombosis, urinary hesitancy, acute metabolic encephalopathy, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, sleep disturbance, abdominal distension, atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, neurological disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, erectile dysfunction, stroke, skin disability, fibromyalgia, bilateral foot pain, hammer toes, tinea pedis, meningitis, GERD, traumatic brain injury, and irritable bowel syndrome. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss and a back disability.

The deciding factor: The evidence supported service connection for PTSD and tinnitus based on in-service events, while other conditions were not shown to have onset during or be related to active duty service.

Claimed conditions

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tinnitus, Right ankle disability, Left ankle disability, Right shoulder disability, Left shoulder disability, Right knee disability, Left knee disability, Heart disability, to include myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiomyopathy and atrial flutter, Respiratory disability, to include pulmonary embolism, sinusitis, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, emphysema, bronchitis, rhinitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Kidney disability, Venous thrombosis, right lower extremity, Venous thrombosis, left lower extremity, Urinary hesitancy, Acute metabolic encephalopathy, Hypertension, Obstructive sleep apnea, Sleep disturbance, Abdominal distension, Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, Neurological disability, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Erectile dysfunction, Stroke, Skin disability, Fibromyalgia, Bilateral foot pain, Hammer toes, right foot, Hammer toes, left foot, Tinea pedis, Meningitis, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Traumatic brain injury, Irritable bowel syndrome, Vitamin B deficiency, Alcohol abuse

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

April 25, 2025

Citation

A25038233

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 A25038233.