Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims for a higher initial rating and TDIU due to issues with notification of VA examinations, as well as additional development of the evidence. The Veteran's somatoform disorder is currently rated at 50% effective April 29, 2008.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's spine disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, finding no causal relationship to service or herbicide exposure. The Veteran's arthritis was attributed to multiple traumas and factory work post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral stress fractures calcaneus due to inadequate examination and failure to evaluate each foot separately.

The Board has restored a previously reduced rating of 60 percent for duodenal ulcer, finding the reduction improper due to lack of improvement in the disability.

The Veteran's son is not eligible for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1815 because the mother is not a Vietnam veteran and the child does not have spina bifida.

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions as they are not considered to be related to service or radiation exposure. The claims have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a vision disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional medical records.

The Board denied an effective date prior to August 19, 2013 for additional benefits for the Veteran's son's education due to a lack of timely submission of claims.

The Veteran's right chin numbness is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Prior to April 29, 2016, the Veteran's gastritis was rated at 10 percent. From April 29, 2016, it is rated at 10 percent due to lack of multiple small eroded or ulcerated areas.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including explaining how the debt was calculated and issuing a SOC concerning the validity of the debt. The Veteran is also to be notified about the need to file a timely substantive appeal if he wishes to perfect his issue with the Board.

The Veteran's MDS is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current eye pain and sensitivity are related to his service-connected subconjunctival hemorrhages.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a right bicep disorder and left thumb disorder were denied. The Veteran was granted an initial 50 percent disability rating for persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress, but the TDIU claim for diabetes mellitus, type 2, was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for eligibility to receive specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant on an accrued basis as these benefits are not considered 'periodic monetary benefits' under VA law.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA examination for left varicocele, and ordered a new one.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits due to having excessive income, as his annual family income was $44,912.00 and deductible medical expenses were $9,508.00, resulting in a countable annual income of $35,404.00 which is greater than the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) of $16,851.00.

The Board has decided that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange while stationed at Camp Samae San in Thailand, which could potentially grant service connection for his cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral iritis as directly incurred in service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.