Real decisions, in plain English

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected unspecified bipolar disorder with cyclothymic disorder prior to April 28, 2022.

unspecified bipolar disorder with cyclothymic disorder

The Board restored the Veteran's rating for overactive bladder from 0 percent to 20 percent and granted an increased rating of 40 percent.

Overactive bladder

The appeal for service connection for depression was dismissed as the claim was fully resolved by a subsequent rating decision. The appeal for service connection for anxiety was denied due to insufficient evidence of a current disability.

depression · anxiety

The appeal for a rating in excess of 50 percent for generalized anxiety disorder under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) was dismissed due to procedural error.

generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.

PTSD · lumbosacral strain · right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia · left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst · headaches, unspecified

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy.

left upper extremity ulnar neuropathy · right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a right hip disability, and granted a 30 percent rating for ureterolithiasis. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, while other claims were remanded.

tinnitus · right hip disability · ureterolithiasis · posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) · left shoulder disability · right shoulder disability · gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) · lumbar spine disability

The appeal for service connection for bilateral eye macular degeneration with glaucoma and cataract was withdrawn by the Veteran's representative before a decision was promulgated.

bilateral eye macular degeneration with glaucoma and cataract

The Board granted service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) based on the Veteran's participation in toxic exposure risk activities during service.

chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

The Board remands the claim for service connection of left ear hearing loss due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as an addendum opinion is necessary to address evidence of in-service hearing loss and convert audiometric testing results from ASA to ISO-ANSI standards.

left ear hearing loss

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for valvular heart disease based on MET testing showing that at a workload of 3 METs or less, the condition results in fatigue and breathlessness.

valvular heart disease · supraventricular arrhythmia (supraventricular tachycardia) with implanted cardiac pacemaker

The Board granted service connection for tension headaches with migraines and obstructive sleep apnea, both as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder (MDD) with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

tension headaches with migraines · obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including GERD, chronic kidney disease, COPD, a heart condition, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea, as additional development is necessary to address the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemical agents during his service.

gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) · chronic kidney disease · chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) · heart condition, to include coronary artery disease and/or chronic heart failure · diabetes mellitus, type II · hypertension · insomnia disorder · obstructive sleep apnea

The Board remands the issue of service connection for prostate cancer to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's toxic exposure risk activities.

prostate cancer

The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) · Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) · Tinnitus · Eye disorder · Hypertension

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches based on the receipt of new and relevant evidence.

migraine headaches

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding a causal relationship between the condition and an in-service incident of military sexual trauma (MST).

Acquired psychiatric disorder

The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that it began during active service.

obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

The Board granted service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor based on his in-service noise exposure.

Bilateral hearing loss disability · Tinnitus

The Board granted service connection for multiple disabilities, including cervical spine and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, radiculopathies, a bladder disability, headaches, a left knee disability, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and bilateral conjunctivitis. The Board also granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

cervical spine disability · thoracolumbar spine disabilities · left upper extremity radiculopathy · right upper extremity radiculopathy · left lower extremity radiculopathy, to include left calf pain · right lower extremity radiculopathy, to include right calf pain · bladder disability · headaches · left knee disability · acquired psychiatric disorder, to include adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood · bilateral conjunctivitis