Real decisions, in plain English

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on a finding of reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The Board has determined that the Veteran's essential tremor is related to his military service, granting his claim for service connection.

essential tremor

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Reiter's arthritis of the bilateral ankles is denied as it was not filed before October 13, 2021.

Reiter's arthritis

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to incomplete service records and failure to consider all available evidence, including in-service treatment records from F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

Back disability

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, shin splints of the right leg, and shin splints of the left leg are being remanded due to a failure to obtain VA examinations and medical nexus opinions.

left knee strain · right knee strain · shin splints, right leg · shin splints, left leg

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.

tinnitus

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military noise exposure.

tinnitus

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 26, 2020, for the temporary total evaluation for hospitalization due to service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Major depressive disorder

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence supporting the Veteran's assertions. The VA will obtain an examination and provide an opinion on whether these disabilities are related to service.

neck disability · back disability

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, finding inadequate medical opinions due to failure to consider all relevant evidence.

degenerative disc disease · bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death due to a vehicular accident, which was primarily caused by the driver's negligence and poor visibility conditions.

chronic post-traumatic degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbosacral spine · herniated nucleus pulposus L5-S1 · left and right lower extremity radiculopathy

The Veteran's right and left knee braces caused wear and tear to his clothing in the year of 2021, leading to a decision granting annual clothing allowances for both knee braces.

Degenerative joint disease of the right knee · Degenerative joint disease of the left knee

The Board has granted service connection for multiple myeloma, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

multiple myeloma

The Board has granted service connection for right calf injury residuals and assigned an initial 10% rating. The eligibility of attorneys D.W. and C.A. to receive direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded in the August 2024 rating decision is determined.

Right calf injury residuals

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,Service connection was granted for a left forearm disability, and an initial rating of 70 percent is assigned.

Left Knee Residual ACL Tear with Degenerative Meniscus Post ACL Repair (Limitation of Extension) · Left Knee Instability · Left Forearm Disability

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 40% prior to September 28, 2018. From that date, the rating was increased to 50%. The earlier effective date for TDIU is denied.

degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine

The Board has determined that the Veteran and his spouse, M., entered into a domestic partnership under California law in May 2024. However, this partnership is not considered a marriage for VA purposes due to California's definition of domestic partnerships as distinct from marriages. Therefore, M. cannot be recognized as the Veteran's dependent spouse for the purpose of additional compensation.

A 30 percent rating for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted, and service connection for hypertension is denied.

IBS · Hypertension

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide proper notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing on his supplemental claim, as required by VA regulations.

sleep disability

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was dismissed. The Board granted service connection for hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis with complications, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, vitamin deficiencies, memory/cognitive impairment, unexplained arthralgias, fatigue, hair loss, and bradycardia.

tinnitus · hypothyroidism · Hashimoto's thyroiditis