Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

diabetes mellitus

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a skin condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions under the PACT Act.

sleep apnea · skin condition (including skin cancer)

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance from another person, warranting special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

bilateral hearing loss · asbestosis · tinnitus

For the period prior to October 29, 2021, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status is denied.,For the entire appeal period, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on need of regular aid and attendance is granted.

bilateral pes planus · bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy · degenerative joint and disc disease of the lumbar spine · bilateral limitation of knee extension · PTSD with depression

The Board has granted service connection for neck and back disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

neck disability · back disability

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve, effective January 12, 2024. Attorney fees are eligible based on past due benefits awarded in this decision.

lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease · right lower extremity radiculopathy affecting the sciatic nerve

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee and back disorders due to outstanding private treatment records not obtained. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was withdrawn by the appellant.

tinnitus · right knee disorder (degenerative arthritis) · left knee disorder (degenerative arthritis) · back disorder (thoracolumbar degenerative arthritis)

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition is dismissed as the Board has already granted it. The appeal for increased rating of PTSD is also dismissed due to the grant of service connection.

Heart condition · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The Veteran's bilateral pseudophakia, cystoid Macular edema, right eye, and macular pucker, right eye were rated at 30 percent due to visual impairment. The evidence did not show any incapacitating episodes or other issues warranting a higher rating.

Bilateral pseudophakia · Cystoid Macular Edema, right eye · Macular pucker, right eye

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 10, 1997, for a 10% disability rating for his right ankle disability is denied as there was no CUE in the previous decisions.

Right ankle disability

The Board has determined that the December 2022 decision denying eligibility for VA's PCAFC program is legally inadequate and requires further development to ensure a thorough review of all medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current unspecified depressive disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

unspecified depressive disorder

The Veteran's lung condition and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded for additional development to determine if they are related to service, specifically his in-service pneumonia. The claims will also be reviewed for secondary service connection due to the Veteran's tinnitus and hearing loss.

lung condition · obstructive sleep apnea

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is rated at 70 percent from October 31, 2023. Service connection for IBS and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood · irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) · obstructive sleep apnea

The Veteran's asbestosis disability is rated at 100% from December 2, 2024 to January 16, 2026. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is dismissed as moot.

asbestosis

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the service connection for a lumbar condition and left knee condition, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

lumbar condition · left knee condition

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for PTSD, a rating increase for PTSD, and service connection for pancreatic cancer secondary to diabetes.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Pancreatic Cancer · Diabetes Mellitus type II

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent. A separate 30 percent disability rating for BPPV associated with his hearing loss was granted.

Bilateral Hearing Loss · Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

sleep apnea

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and tinnitus, finding that the conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

hypertension · tinnitus