Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for TDIU. The Board denied a higher rating for PTSD and did not find total occupational and social impairment.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral foot gout and sleep apnea due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's gout is being examined again, and an in-home sleep study should be conducted for his sleep apnea claim.

bilateral foot gout · sleep apnea

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Neck Disability, and Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy. The decision is based on the Veteran's active service and medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea · Neck Disability · Bilateral Upper Extremity Radiculopathy

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in either ear, and therefore service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

bilateral hearing loss

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of medical services provided by Bothwell Regional Health Center from January 19, 2022 to January 21, 2022 is remanded due to an error in the initial decision. The matter will be reconsidered and a new decision issued that complies with VA's notice requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus type II (DM II), hypertension, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to service-connected DM II. The Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during active service is presumed.

prostate cancer · coronary artery disease (CAD) · diabetes mellitus type II (DM II) · hypertension · erectile dysfunction

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of loose teeth and extraction at the Board hearing.

loose teeth · extraction

The appeal of a proposed reduction from 40 percent to 20 percent for fibromyalgia is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depressive disorder, is denied.

fibromyalgia · psychiatric disability (including PTSD, depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood, chronic r/o PTSD)

The Veteran's initial evaluation for tension headaches to include migraines is granted, with a rating of 50 percent effective from May 23, 2023.

Tension headaches · Migraines

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and left arm tremors. Service connection for right hand tremors is also granted. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was denied as there is no current diagnosis of tinnitus.

diabetes mellitus, type II · left arm tremors · right hand tremors

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for vertigo and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 10 percent.

Bilateral Hearing Loss · Vertigo · Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.

sinusitis · chronic lower back pain · chronic right knee pain · chronic left knee pain · chronic neck pain · gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy is granted with an effective date of July 25, 2023.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy is dismissed as it does not meet the criteria for an earlier effective date.

right foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy · left foot disability status post Mitchell's bunionectomy · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) · arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD) · intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) · left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy · right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy · hypertension

The Board denied service connection for asthma, COPD, pancreatitis, stroke, and left arm weakness (claimed as secondary to stroke) based on the presumption of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or due to in-service exposure.

asthma · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) · pancreatitis · stroke · left arm weakness

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a medical examination regarding the severity of his residuals from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), including chronic fatigue. The initial compensable rating for CLL remains denied.

chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) · chronic fatigue

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability for the conditions claimed, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

Right Ankle Pain · Left Knee Condition · Bilateral Foot Pain (Hallux Valgus) · Left Shoulder Disability · Right Shoulder Disability

The Veteran's appeals of the initial ratings for his service-connected chronic cough and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to procedural errors in the evidentiary record.

Chronic cough manifested by shortness of breath/breathing difficulty · Bilateral hearing loss

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his left knee disability, including without considering the ameliorative effects of medication.

left knee degenerative joint disease

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric condition, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

PTSD · depression · anxiety

The Board has found duty to assist errors and remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and any outstanding relevant records. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for HIV-related illnesses with depression.

left foot hallux valgus with hammer toes · left foot pes planus with degenerative arthritis and 2nd left toe fracture residuals