Real decisions, in plain English

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

lumbar myositis · psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria · residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars · residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

bilateral hearing loss · ruptured right ear drum

The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.

right shoulder disability · migraines/chronic headaches

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.

coronary artery disease

The Veteran's service-connected musculoligamentous strain, right knee, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

musculoligamentous strain, right knee

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.

left knee disability · right knee disability · bilateral hip disabilities

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

Right Knee Disability · Left Knee Disability

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Appellant's reserve component service and conducting a VA examination to determine if her multiple sclerosis is related to service.

Multiple Sclerosis

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum rate. The appellant is not entitled to receive these benefits as her countable income was above the required limit.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.

left knee disorder · back disorder

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.

PTSD · Mood Disorders

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right elbow disability and a nasal disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

Right elbow disability · Nasal deformity with residual rhinitis

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which he claims was caused by exposure to water-based contaminants at Camp Lejeune during his military service.

basal cell carcinoma

The Board denied a separate rating for bladder impairment associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that there is no objective neurological abnormality related to his lumbar spine condition.

Bladder impairment · Urinary urgency and incontinence

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.

migraines · fibromyalgia · bilateral shoulder condition · painful scars

The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

headaches · migraines · chronic daily headaches with muscle contraction and migrainous features

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

hypertension · peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity · peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity · peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity · peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service.

Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine