Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is granted as secondary to his service-connected eczema and psoriasis. The initial compensable evaluation for toenail psoriasis remains denied.

squamous cell carcinoma · toenail psoriasis

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is considered a present disability that had its onset during active service due to in-service noise exposure.

tinnitus

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of service connection for chronic insomnia has been dismissed due to a failure to timely file an NOD within one year of the November 2024 rating decision.

chronic insomnia

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Leukemia have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

PTSD · Leukemia

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to a failure to obtain relevant private medical records.

sleep apnea · an acquired psychiatric disorder

The Board has granted effective dates of April 13, 2009 for service connection and SMC based on the loss of use of a creative organ for bowel leakage, bladder difficulties (interstitial cystitis), bilateral eye decreased visual acuity, erectile dysfunction, and multiple sclerosis.

bowel leakage · bladder difficulties (interstitial cystitis) · bilateral eye decreased visual acuity · erectile dysfunction

The Board has granted service connection for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as secondary to the Veteran's ocular migraines, finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the Veteran.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) · Ocular Migraines

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep apnea is service connected as secondary to his PTSD. The GERD and migraine headaches claims are remanded for further review.

obstructive sleep apnea · gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) · migraine headaches

The Veteran's adult child, R.F., is not considered permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18 years old and thus does not meet the criteria for survivor benefits.

Intellectual disability · Epilepsy · ADHD

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.

Right Shoulder Disability · Low Back Disability · Left Knee Disability · Right Knee Disability · Headache Disability · Left Shoulder Strain

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding private treatment records for prostate cancer.

prostate cancer

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is granted, and the appeal to restore a 40% rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc other than IVDS, central canal stenosis, and scoliosis prior to June 1, 2024 is dismissed.

GERD · lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, degenerative disc other than IVDS, central canal stenosis, and scoliosis

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.

posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) · major depressive disorder · generalized anxiety disorder · insomnia · unspecified psychosis · arthritis of the lumbar spine · degenerative disc disease · multilevel spinal stenosis · arthritis of the cervical spine

The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine condition and brachial neuritis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions.

migraine condition · brachial neuritis

The Veteran's left knee brace caused wear and tear to her clothing in 2021, leading the Board to grant a clothing allowance for that year.

Left Knee Total Knee Replacement Residuals

A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted as of August 11, 2023. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, back disability, and neck disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding these conditions.

left leg shin splints · right leg shin splints · back disability · neck disability

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for PTSD, finding that the symptoms of PTSD are fully contemplated by the existing 100 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues related to erectile dysfunction and bowel dysfunction.

Painful urination · Headache condition · Pseudofolliculitis barbae · Left shoulder surgical scar · Bilateral hearing loss · Bilateral flat feet · Right foot pain and numbness · Condition manifested by light sensitivity · Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) · Lower back condition · Left lower extremity radiculopathy · Right knee condition · Allergic rhinitis

The Veteran's hypertension was granted service connection effective August 10, 2022. The heart disability was granted secondary to the hypertension.,An initial rating of 30% for the heart disability was granted in May 2023 and increased to 60% since October 22, 2024.

hypertension · heart disability