Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as 0 percent (noncompensable) due to the audiometric test results showing hearing acuity levels of no worse than Level II in the right ear and no worse than Level I in the left ear. The Board found that these findings do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

Bilateral Hearing Loss

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has found that additional development is needed to determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to active service.

Back · Right Knee · Left Knee · Plantar Fasciitis (both feet) · Obstructive Sleep Apnea · Hypertension

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sleep apnea and asthma due to a failure to provide proper notice for a hearing.

sleep apnea · asthma

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea due to a lack of timely appeal and an incomplete VA Form 10182. The Board will evaluate the claim as appealed in his VA Form 10182, namely as denied in the April 2025 rating decision.

obstructive sleep apnea

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

PTSD · obstructive sleep apnea · tinnitus · bilateral hearing loss

The Veteran's bilateral wrist and hand carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded for further evaluation due to the need for a medical opinion addressing the relationship between his service and current condition.

left wrist and hand carpal tunnel syndrome · right wrist and hand carpal tunnel syndrome

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, which is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and panic disorder with insomnia. The decision finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the erectile dysfunction was caused by these conditions.

erectile dysfunction · diabetes mellitus type II · panic disorder with insomnia

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI, chronic fatigue syndrome, pes planus, GERD, asthma, left hand condition, right hand condition, sleep apnea, and gout have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims for lumbosacral strain and bilateral knee strains.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Head Injury · Chronic Fatigue Syndrome · Pes Planus · Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) · Asthma · Left Hand Condition · Right Hand Condition · Sleep Apnea · Gout · Lumbosacral Strain · Left Knee Strain · Right Knee Strain

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's condition is due to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

Left Upper Extremity Neuropathy · Left Lower Extremity Neuropathy · Right Lower Extremity Neuopathy · Right Upper Extremity Neuropathy

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, including diagnosed degenerative arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome and spinal stenosis status post L3, L4, and L5 laminectomy. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury and his ongoing symptoms since then.

Low Back Disability · Degenerative Arthritis with DDD other than intervertebral disc syndrome · Spinal Stenosis

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee disability was pre-existing and the examiner must determine if it was aggravated during service.

right knee, degenerative arthritis · left knee, degenerative arthritis

The Board has found that remand is needed for the Veteran's claims due to duty to assist errors, including clarification of periods of service and obtaining relevant records. The Veteran will be afforded new medical examinations for each claimed disability.

gastritis · gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) · right shoulder disability · left shoulder disability · low back disability · dry eyes

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as these issues have been addressed in a separate docket.

left knee disability · right knee disability · lumbar spine disability · obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis of the right hand, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The earliest effective date is June 30, 2012, for the right hand condition and April 22, 2016, for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

middle and index trigger finger/stenosing tenosynovitis · left lower extremity radiculopathy · right lower extremity radiculopathy

The Veteran's claim for an increased PTSD rating from January 20, 2006 to August 27, 2013 was granted. The effective date of the increased rating is set at August 27, 2013.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is found to be related to his active service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

obstructive sleep apnea

The Veteran's PTSD is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity in Vietnam, and his alcohol use disorder is due to his PTSD. Service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder has been granted.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Alcohol Use Disorder

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hypothyroidism and therefore denied their claim for service connection.

hypothyroidism

The Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee; right knee strain with instability (limitation of flexion); and right knee strain with instability (impairment of the knee) have been granted effective December 30, 2022.

patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee · right knee strain with instability (limitation of flexion) · right knee strain with instability (impairment of the knee)

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted with an effective date of July 30, 2017.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea