Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cyst and prostate disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for persistent atrial fibrillation was denied as the earliest possible effective date is August 22, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records that may be relevant to the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The appellant and her representative will have an opportunity to respond after additional development is completed.

The Board denied service connection for vision impairment including myopia and a compensable rating for chalazion of the upper eyelids. The Veteran's myopia is considered congenital in nature and not subject to disability compensation, while his chalazion was found unrelated to his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, resulting in a proper creation of an overpayment and denial of his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected right hand volar plate avulsion residuals is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and limitation of extension of the right knee were denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided that an additional medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's periodic limb movement disorder is related to his military service or caused by his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disorders, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected foot and knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder and anti-social personality disorder is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for additional dependency compensation based on his son's attendance at an approved educational institution has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing this issue.

The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma is related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that further documentation of the Appellant’s marital history is needed due to apparent conflicts in the record as to whether she was married or legally separated from A. D.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of fractures to his right hand, finding that the disability does not approximate ankylosis or amputation.

The Board dismissed the appeal on all issues related to service connection for a neurological disorder of the lower extremities due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim to reopen a service connection for a bilateral eye disability is granted. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, securing SSA records, and arranging an ophthalmologic examination. For the service connection issue on the merits, the case is also remanded for another opinion from a cardiovascular physician regarding whether TIAs or strokes are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of residuals of salmonella poisoning and the claim for TDIU. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating of 50 percent for service-connected status post hysterectomy is granted. The current effective date for this grant is May 11, 2017. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for urinary incontinence prior to April 15, 2019 and from April 15, 2019 onwards are denied. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for status post hysterectomy is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for additional compensation benefits based on his daughter, D, attending school from August 25, 2015 to January 11, 2017 was denied because he did not timely notify VA of her enrollment.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of status post ventral hernia surgery is denied as there is no evidence that the VA treatment caused an additional disability.