Real decisions, in plain English

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, left hip disability, TBI, and left knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,Specifically, the VA examination in December 2019 determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.

bilateral hearing loss · tinnitus · lumbar spine disability · right hand disability · left hip disability · traumatic brain injury (TBI) · left knee disability

The Veteran's hearing loss and low back strain claims are remanded for further evaluation. The hearing loss claim is denied, while the low back strain claim requires additional examination to determine its severity.

Hearing loss · Low back strain

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates and initial ratings have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

left hip disability (limitation of flexion) · right hip disability (limitation of flexion) · left hip disability (limitation of abduction) · right hip disability (limitation of abduction) · left ankle disability · right ankle disability · vertigo

The Board denied an increased initial disability rating for migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 50% rating due to lack of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

Migraine headaches

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, glaucoma/low vision, and monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

hypertension · glaucoma/low vision · monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance

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

neck condition · low back condition

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to service-connected TBI with PTSD is granted, effective September 6, 2018.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) · Acquired Psychiatric Disorder

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for left ankle disability residuals, finding that his current condition is due to an in-service injury and granting the benefit of the doubt.

Left ankle disability

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy, and thus remands the case to obtain addendum medical opinions.

left lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy · right lower extremity femoral nerve radiculopathy

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tension headaches was granted with an effective date of August 28, 2014.,Service connection for eczema was granted with an effective date of August 10, 2022. The Veteran requested an earlier effective date but the request was denied.

tension headaches · eczema · hemorrhoids

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to PTSD, but his headaches are denied due to lack of service connection.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) · Headaches

The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.

Right knee disability · Left knee disability · Left shoulder disability

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but remanded the issue of sleep apnea due to pre-existing duty-to-assist errors and new evidence.

tinnitus · sleep apnea

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder and kidney cancer were dismissed as the Notice of Disagreement was not filed within one year of the denial.

Bladder cancer · Kidney cancer

The Board has denied service connection for Cushing's disease and pituitary tumor, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship to military service. The Veteran's conditions are attributed to her own diagnosis rather than exposure to toxic substances during service.

Cushing's disease · pituitary tumor

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for pes planus of the left foot as he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without good cause.

Pes planus

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for sleep apnea, an earlier effective date for PTSD, and a disability evaluation for radiculopathy of all RUE radicular groups. The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to lack of proper filing or because the issues were moot.

Sleep Apnea · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) · Radiculopathy of all right upper extremity radicular groups

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus with insomnia has been dismissed due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

tinnitus · insomnia

The Veteran's non-VA emergency medical services for an infected sebaceous cyst on December 5, 2020 are granted as they met the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C. § 1725.

infected sebaceous cyst

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus II and associated conditions have produced impairment inconsistent with obtaining or following substantially gainful employment from June 12, 2017, to March 5, 2024. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

diabetes mellitus II · erectile dysfunction · diabetic neuropathy of the right and left upper extremity · diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremity · chronic kidney disease