Real decisions, in plain English

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination used in the initial decision, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's right wrist disabilities are related to service.

joint pain of the upper extremities · elbow joint pain

The Board has determined that the claims for increased rating and service connection must be remanded due to inadequate examinations and duty-to-assist errors.

low back injury with degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease · left foot plantar fasciitis · right foot plantar fasciitis · left foot disorder (fallen arches) · right foot disorder (fallen arches)

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military sexual trauma (MST). The issues of entitlement to service connection for alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine use disorder and obstructive sleep apnea have been remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Major depressive disorder

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that his current condition is not etiologically related to service.

obstructive sleep apnea

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in notifying the Veteran of his right to a hearing, and the AOJ is required to fulfill this requirement before readjudicating the claim.

erectile dysfunction

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and rating of left lower extremity radiculopathy, headache disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to an error in notifying the Veteran of her right to a pre-decisional hearing.

headache disability · bilateral hearing loss · left lower extremity radiculopathy

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and rhinitis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active duty service, including exposure to environmental factors during Operation Desert Storm.

sinusitis · rhinitis

The Board has found that additional VA opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's dizziness, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and tension headaches, including migraines. The opinions should consider the Veteran's participation in a TERA and the combined effect of all his service-connected disabilities.

dizziness · benign paroxysmal positional vertigo · tension headaches · migraines

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for syncopal episodes, finding that these episodes are secondary to her service-connected migraine headaches.

syncopal episodes · seizures

The Board has decided to remand the claim for service connection of a bilateral foot condition due to lack of STRs and need for further examination.

bilateral foot condition · right foot pes planus

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition as secondary to his service-connected right ankle condition.

Right knee condition

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and DDD, as well as right and left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the now service-connected lumbar spine condition. The decision is based on a finding of relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

lumbar spine degenerative arthritis · lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (DDD) · right lower extremity radiculopathy · left lower extremity radiculopathy

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to untimely filing of the appeal.

chronic pain syndrome · degenerative joint disease (DJD) and degenerative osteoarthritis · left knee strain · right hand muscle weakness · left shoulder osteoarthritis · right shoulder osteoarthritis · iridocytes · joint pain of the pelvic region

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for migraine headaches, including migraine variants, is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion to estimate the severity of his migraines in the absence of medication.

migraine headaches · migraine variants

The DIC claim is denied because the Veteran was not rated totally disabled for a continuous period of at least 10 years immediately preceding his death. The service connection issue is remanded due to duty to assist error.

loss of bilateral lower extremity · obesity

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to June 18, 2020. The Board found that the severity of symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that she does not have a current diagnosis of this condition and thus cannot establish service connection.

sleep apnea

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression and anxiety, as well as PTSD. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder.

depression · anxiety

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to waive recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits in the amount of $4,950.51 due to concurrent receipt of drill/training pay.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as a result of military sexual trauma (MST) that occurred during service. The Board found the Veteran's testimony and supporting evidence credible, including her VA and private treatment records.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)