Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's tinnitus is a chronic disease that manifested to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

tinnitus

The Board has remanded the claims for shin splints, right knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), stomach disability, and left ear hearing loss due to errors in providing notice of the right to a hearing.

shin splints · right knee disability · acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) · stomach disability · left ear hearing loss

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between the condition and active duty service or any other factor.

lumbosacral spine disability

The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the colon is granted as secondary to his service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder to include alcohol use disorder. The back disability claim is remanded for further development.

adenocarcinoma of the colon · back disability

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed chronic bronchitis. The Veteran is seeking service connection for this condition, which was denied in an initial decision. The VA examiner did not address the medical record indicating a current diagnosis of chronic bronchitis.

chronic bronchitis · upper respiratory tract infections

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and anxiety, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service incurrence or onset of these conditions.

tinnitus · anxiety

The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 1, 2018 for a 20% rating for left shoulder disability was denied. The appeal also resulted in the assignment of a 20% rating from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, and a TDIU granted from April 1, 2018 to September 3, 2025.

Left Shoulder Disability

The Veteran's claim for service connection for HSV-1, or oral herpes, is granted. The effective date of the award is August 6, 2021.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), also known as oral herpes

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee meniscal tear, and IBS, have rendered him unable to secure or follow any substantially gainful employment from May 1, 2020 to May 1, 2021. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance, with all reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Right Knee Meniscal Tear · Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

The Board has granted an effective date of September 17, 2019 for the award of a TDIU and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities met the schedular criteria for a TDIU as of January 31, 2018.

sleep apnea · left nasal polyp · tinnitus

Your initial evaluations for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve have been granted, but your appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve · right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of April 5, 2022 for the award of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance. However, the case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and opinions regarding the Veteran's need for higher-level care.

PTSD · lumbar spinal stenosis with radiculopathy

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the Board found that an earlier effective date was not warranted. The issues of increased disability ratings for residuals of a pilonidal cyst on the tailbone, DMII, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

pilonidal cyst on tailbone, status post excision · diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII) · diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity · diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity

The Board has found that the Veteran's diagnosed back disability is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service and remanded for further examination of his right shoulder disability.

lumbar degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis · right shoulder impingement with degenerative changes

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for testicular cancer effective July 18, 2022. The decision is based on the Veteran's supplemental claim received on that date.

testicular cancer

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to noise exposure during active service. The decision also notes that new evidence was submitted after a previous denial.

tinnitus

The Veteran's lung disability is already rated at 100%, and he receives SMC at the housebound rate. Therefore, a TDIU would not result in greater monetary compensation.

benign neoplasm of the lungs

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy and denied the claims for right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, GERD, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision is remanded for further action on these issues.

left lower extremity radiculopathy · right knee disability · erectile dysfunction · gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) · sleep apnea · hypertension

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in April 2024 was inadequate for adjudication purposes and remands the case for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's sinus condition is related to his military service.

sinus condition