Real decisions, in plain English

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The decision finds that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is proximately due to his service-connected PTSD.

diabetes mellitus, type II

The Veteran's initial rating for service-connected GAD was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to service or toxic exposure. The Veteran's claims were based on his participation in TERA activities during service.

hypertension · obstructive sleep apnea

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.

tinnitus · diabetes mellitus · headache disability · hypertension · sleep apnea · acquired psychiatric disorder

The Veteran's right and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy disabilities are granted with ratings of 40% and 30%, respectively, effective February 4, 2019.,Effective February 4, 2019, the Veteran is granted eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35.

Right Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy · Left Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD renders him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history, warranting a TDIU.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD is related to his in-service traumatic experiences.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Veteran's bradycardia with atrial fibrillation is found to be secondary to his service-connected hypertension, and the claim for service connection has been granted.

Bradycardia with Atrial Fibrillation

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) · Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) · Bruxism · Migraines/Headaches · Tinnitus · Left Hip Pain · Right Hip Pain · Left Iliotibial Band Syndrome · Right Iliotibial Band Syndrome · Left Leg Stress Fracture · Right Leg Stress Fracture

The Board has granted the Appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA pension benefits, leaving $7,226.00 remaining to be waived.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise a March 1975 rating decision that assigned an initial noncompensable disability rating for service-connected right ankle fracture, finding no CUE in the decision.

Right ankle fracture

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea was denied.,The appeal to grant an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is dismissed as final and binding.

sleep apnea · posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and bilateral varicose veins due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no direct evidence linking his conditions to his active service.

diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) · bilateral varicose veins

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced acoustic noise trauma in service, which led to current diagnoses of bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

bilateral hearing loss · tinnitus

The Veteran's current coronary artery disease with acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction with coronary stent is being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of a medical nexus between his service-connected hypertension and his heart condition.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

The Board denied the appellant's claim for apportionment of her father's VA disability compensation because she turned 18 in 2023 and did not provide evidence that she was attending an approved educational institution.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 100 percent for service-connected multiple myeloma has been denied. The Board also remanded two issues related to nerve neuropathies, and the claims for TDIU and SMC have been denied.

multiple myeloma

The appeal is remanded due to unclear status of the appellant's claim for an apportionment on behalf of the Veteran's helpless dependent child, G.G. The RO must clarify the status and issue a decision.

The Veteran's claim for a heart disability prior to his death is granted as he was entitled to accrued benefits due to the September 1994 claim, which included ischemic heart disease, a covered herbicide disease.

ischemic heart disease

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. Additional development is needed for service connection of carpal tunnel syndrome, increased ratings for lower extremity radiculopathies, and obtaining a VA TERA opinion.

carpal tunnel syndrome · right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) · left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve)