Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right eye disorder, as the previous VA examiner did not assess whether any pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and incomplete medical records, requiring further development including a VA examination by an oncologist.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals, gunshot wound, left arm. The claim was filed on September 29, 2017, and the effective date granted is also September 29, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral shin splints has been denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,An initial evaluation of 10 percent, but no higher, has been granted for left foot hallux valgus and a separate evaluation of 10 percent, but no higher, since September 26, 2016, for calluses on the left great toe due to the bunion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left Achilles tendon rupture is being remanded due to the need to decide if his surviving spouse can be recognized as a substitute claimant.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for upper respiratory infection and eosinophilic gastritis with insomnia, as well as the claim for TDIU prior to May 13, 2006. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied service connection for lupus, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides, polychlorinated biphenyl, mustard gas, or other toxic exposures. The Veteran's claim was based on presumed service connection due to herbicide exposure, but the Board found that lupus is not a disease entitled to such presumptive service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous remands and the need for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's hamstring disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their passing, as the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's amputation of the distal phalanx of the left great toe is rated at 10 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed because of his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for genital herpes is remanded due to the lack of complete service treatment records, including results from a June 1986 medical report and her separation examination.

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

The appeals for service connection for TBI and for a grant of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's appeal for additional compensation for his former spouse, S., was denied because he did not provide her social security number to VA and the threshold criterion of a minimum 30 percent disability rating for basic entitlement to additional payment for dependents has been met since prior to their marriage. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against an increased rate of compensation based on an additional dependency allowance for S.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, specifically those from a pulmonologist at Chattanooga Heart Institute where the Veteran received treatment for his COPD and asthma in May 2018.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection issues are addressed.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder with insomnia, due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the case is not about service connection.

The Veteran's actinic keratosis is due to sun exposure during his military service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.