Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's left ring finger disability is currently rated as noncompensable due to the lack of functional impairment that would warrant a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left hip avulsion fracture. However, the right hip disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its relationship to the left hip disorder.

The Veteran's tardive dyskinesia is being remanded for further evaluation due to conflicting opinions and the need for additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left tympanic membrane perforation is a result of his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a compensable evaluation for service-connected fatty liver and benign hepatic hemangioma, which the Board considered and dismissed.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as he is not a dependent child of his mother at the time of her death and did not personally pay any expenses related to her last illness or burial.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits due to lack of evidence of a pending claim or receipt of VA compensation/pension at the time of death. The Veteran died in a penitentiary, which disqualifies him from receiving such benefits.

The Board has decided that the appellant's notice of disagreement regarding the extension of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was not timely filed, and thus the matter is being remanded to secure missing documents.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's vision disorder, including presbyopia, is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it was caused by the prescribed medication (Effexor XR/Venlafaxine) for her service-connected PTSD. The rating for gastritis, hypothyroidism, and PTSD are also being remanded.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his cause of death.

The Board finds that remand of the Veteran's 2008 pension year is warranted because it is unable to determine how the RO calculated $1,000.00 in unreimbursable medical expenses for that year.

The Board has remanded the claims for Sjogren’s disease and tubal ligation due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right hand flexion deformity and arthritis were granted service connection effective November 5, 1970. The claim was reopened based on new STRs received in March 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disease may be related to his military service, but more evidence is needed to confirm this. The case is being remanded for further examination and development.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as his disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tingling in his right and left legs due to a lack of recent VA treatment records, the need to obtain private medical records related to restless leg syndrome, and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a chest disability, including costochondritis, as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability is granted. A rating of 40 percent for the thoracolumbar spine disability is also granted.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.