Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his service-connected Achilles tendonitis, right, is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional inpatient service treatment records from a period of hospitalization in 1954, which may be relevant to determining if the Veteran's back injury during service is related to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a throat disability, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulitis, finding that it is not related to his service-connected ulcerative colitis and is not caused or aggravated by it.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acute respiratory disease. A VA examination is needed to determine if his condition began during service or is related to an incident of service.

The Veteran is challenging whether an overpayment was properly created. The Board has decided to remand this issue for further review.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current or previously-diagnosed organic nerve disorder of the lower extremities characterized by pain, tingling, and weakness. The Veteran is entitled to such an examination as there are indications that a nerve disorder could be related to service but insufficient competent medical evidence on file for the Secretary to make a decision.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's heart condition, including congenital bicuspid aortic valve with aortic stenosis/insufficiency, dilatation of ascending aorta, status post aortic valve replacement, aortic root and aneurysm repair, needs further evaluation for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral insufficiency of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to the service-connected disabilities of the right and left foot, finding no current disability.

The Veteran's anal skin tags, chronic anal fissures, and chronic bleeding have been rated at a 20 percent since January 6, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because they died during the pendency of their claim, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's shortness of breath is a symptom of obesity, and thus not service-connected. The claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right foot disability, characterized by traumatic arthritis and fracture with exostoses, has resulted in a severe impairment throughout the appeal period. The Board granted a 30 percent evaluation for this condition as of October 15, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for drug and alcohol dependency, finding it was a result of the Veteran's own willful misconduct.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left elbow disability and an increased evaluation for his left ulnar nerve injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a secondary relationship between these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected cystitis aggravated her nonservice-connected cystocele/weakened pelvic floor muscles.

The Veteran's daughter, Q.T.W., is not considered a child for the purposes of additional dependency compensation because she was over 18 years old and not in school when her father reached a disability rating of at least 30 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right third finger disability and a dental disability, claiming as oral sensitivity. The decision also notes that the issues of effective dates for left knee strain are inextricably intertwined with the earlier effective date claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA examination. The examiner should assess the current severity of his service-connected back disability, including its impact on his ability to sit for long periods.