Real decisions, in plain English

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected left knee and left ankle conditions.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The Veteran's death benefits appeal was denied as the Appellant did not meet the criteria to be considered a surviving spouse for VA purposes due to her marriage occurring more than 15 years after the Veteran's separation from service and less than one year prior to his death.

The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.

PTSD · hyperglycemia (due to type 2 diabetes mellitus) · chronic kidney disease · erectile dysfunction · chronic PTD (presumably PTSD, possibly a typo for another condition) · hyperlipidemia · gout · benign essential hypertension · stroke

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity axonal polyneuropathy were rated at 10 percent prior to January 31, 2025. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not show moderate or severe incomplete paralysis.

Right lower extremity axonal polyneuropathy · Left lower extremity axonal polyneuropathy

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of tinnitus is due to noise exposure during his active military service.

tinnitus

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that these conditions are due to in-service noise exposure.

bilateral hearing loss · tinnitus

The Veteran's service connection claim for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma in situ (scalp) and basal cell carcinoma (forehead) with scars were rated as noncompensable due to improvement. The claim for service connection of actinic keratosis is remanded.

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (scalp) · Basal cell carcinoma (forehead)

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma is remanded due to the lack of a reasoned medical explanation connecting the facts of his case.

renal cell carcinoma

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and failure to provide pre-decisional notice of a hearing.

tinnitus · bilateral hearing loss

The Board has denied service connection for chronic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and chronic fatigue syndrome as there is no evidence of a current disability in the record.

chronic rhinitis · chronic sinusitis · chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

The Board has granted service connection for intestinal cancer, liver cancer, and a liver biopsy surgical scar as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected intestinal cancer.

malignant carcinoid tumor of the small intestine (intestinal cancer) · liver cancer · liver biopsy surgical scar

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a TMJ disability was denied, and her claims for increased ratings for left wrist de Quervain's tendinitis and femoral radiculopathy were remanded.

TMJ disability

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% rating for PTSD, finding that total occupational and social impairment was not shown before December 4, 2024.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted on a secondary basis with obesity serving as an intermediate step due to service-connected low back disability, sciatica, and right shoulder disabilities.

diabetes mellitus, type II · obesity

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.

Dupuytren's contracture (left hand) · Dupuytren's contracture (right hand) · Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

The Board has granted service connection for left and right shin splints, as well as an ulcer condition (duodenal ulcer), finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

left shin splints · right shin splints · ulcer condition (duodenal ulcer)

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Appellant did not specify which specific decision or issue she disagreed with, specifically regarding her claim for service connection related to Camp Lejeune exposure.

cause of death

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes mellitus due to errors in development of the claim.

back disorder · high blood pressure · type II diabetes mellitus

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral shoulder condition, a bilateral foot disability, and an initial compensable rating for hypertension.,There is no current diagnosis related to the Veteran's bilateral shoulders or feet. The VA examiner found that any current bilateral foot disability was less likely than not incurred in service.

Bilateral Shoulder Condition · Bilateral Foot Disability · Hypertension