Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to July 18, 2014, and a higher than 60 percent rating thereafter for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The examiner needs to provide more detailed information about the severity of his service-connected condition.

Ischemic heart disease · Chronic congestive heart failure

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim, specifically needing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran will be asked to provide any missing records and former employers' information.

bilateral hearing loss

The appeals for kidney disease and right foot osteomyelitis were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision by the Board.

Kidney Disease · Right Foot Osteomyelitis

The Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma does not preclude him from maintaining substantial gainful employment.

bronchial asthma

Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected back and sciatica disabilities. The evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

left knee patellofemoral syndrome

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

ankylosis of the left ankle · ankylosis of the left foot · left shoulder condition · cervical spine condition · hypertension

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye tear duct disorder and found that the Veteran's other service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation. The Veteran's combined service-connected disability rating is 60 percent.

right eye tear duct disorder · epiphora with a history of tear duct obstruction

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied. The left shoulder disability is also rated at 20 percent, but there are no incapacitating episodes to warrant a higher rating under the IVDS Formula. The TDIU claim is remanded.

Degenerative disc disease · Rotator cuff tear

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his low back disability is being remanded due to the reduction in evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent effective May 31, 2014. The RO needs to provide updated VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination to determine the current severity of the disability.

Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of clear and unmistakable error in assigning an effective date of June 19, 2002.

Left Knee Disability

The Board has expanded the scope of the claim for major depression to encompass any mental health disability raised by the record and has remanded six issues for additional development.

right ear perforation · hepatitis C · acquired psychiatric disorder to include depression and anxiety · peripheral venous insufficiency of the right leg · varicose veins of the right leg · right knee osteoarthritis

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran experienced tinnitus during his active duty service.

tinnitus

The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 3, 2011.

Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine · Radiculopathy of the left lower extremity · Radiculopathy of the right lower extremity

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.

peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities · hypertension · any skin disability other than actinic keratosis, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee and leg disability, concluding that there is no current diagnosis or chronic condition related to his military service.

Left knee and leg disability

The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.

inguinal hernia · PTSD · joint pain · fibromyalgia · left knee disability · right knee disability · tinnitus · chronic fatigue syndrome · respiratory disability · sleep disorder · irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) · headaches

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

hypertension · anxiety disorder

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease manifesting within one year after service and concluding that the current disability is not related to his in-service deviated septum.

sleep apnea

The Veteran's right knee condition is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right knee disability during flare-ups.

right knee medial meniscal tear