Real decisions, in plain English

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.

Bilateral Hearing Loss · Tinnitus

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD for a new examination that properly considers the lay statements, including the reported stressors.

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The Board remands the matter for another VA examination and opinion as the previous examinations were found to be inadequate.

right wrist disability

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, to include gastritis and leiomyoma of the stomach but other than IBS with colon polyps, due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The appeal was dismissed for hemorrhoids.

gastrointestinal disorder

The Board denied service connection for gallbladder disability, pre-cancer polyps and colon problems, and dental condition, but granted a 40 percent rating for right shoulder injury and a 30 percent rating for right elbow disability.

gallbladder disability · pre-cancer polyps and colon problems · dental condition, claimed as bleeding gums · right shoulder injury, diagnosed as acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis with bicipital tendonitis · right elbow disability, limitation of flexion

The appeal is remanded to obtain additional evidence and ensure compliance with previous Board remand instructions.

residuals of a fracture of the right distal tibia and fibula with scarring, secondary to a gunshot wound · sensory neuropathy of the right lower extremity

The Board denied an increased disability evaluation for PTSD but granted an earlier effective date for TDIU of August 6, 2012.

PTSD · Hearing Loss

The Board remands the matter for a medical clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected epilepsy has aggravated his bilateral hearing loss.

Bilateral hearing loss

The Board granted service connection for right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability but denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability prior to April 25, 2019.

left knee disability · right knee disability · right hip disability · lumbar spine disability

The Board denied service connection for pancreatitis and a rating higher than 10 percent for the veteran's right index finger amputation residuals due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to military service.

pancreatitis

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a TDIU, due to VA's failure to substantially comply with prior remand directives.

Bilateral hearing loss · Tinnitus

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for varicose veins of both lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the effects of medication.

varicose veins of the left lower extremity · varicose veins of the right lower extremity

The Board granted a 70% rating for PTSD from November 25, 2015 to August 12, 2024 and a 40% rating for the right shoulder disability. It also granted 10% ratings for both feet and 20% ratings for knee patellofemoral pain syndromes.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Right Shoulder Disability · Right Foot Plantar Fasciitis · Left Foot Plantar Fasciitis · Right Knee Instability · Left Knee Instability · Right Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome · Left Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome

The Board remands the matter of a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA educational benefits due to insufficient evidence regarding the validity of the debt.

The Board granted an effective date of June 22, 2017, for the grant of service connection for vascular neurocognitive disorder; unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress.

depressive reaction · vascular neurocognitive disorder; unspecified depressive disorder with anxious distress

The Board denied service connection for a vitamin D deficiency and remanded claims for coronary artery disease, status post femoral bypass, chronic kidney disease, and anemia due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

vitamin D deficiency · coronary artery disease status post myocardial infarction with hypertensive heart condition or heart failure · status post femoral bypass · chronic kidney disease · anemia

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), as there was no evidence that the Veteran was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to February 27, 2024.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to an inadequate medical opinion.

Bilateral hearing loss · Tinnitus

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status.

Bilateral Hearing Loss · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The appeal for an increased evaluation for right hand carpal tunnel syndrome is dismissed due to administrative error and the need to proceed in the legacy appeal system.

right hand carpal tunnel syndrome