Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their passing away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further development and medical opinions due to incomplete records and unclear causation.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to new evidence and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's previous employer will also be asked for a VA Form 21-4192.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records, specifically a letter from the service member dated November 21, 1968 and evidence of examination by specialists and neurologists. The decision is not about service connection but rather about reopening an existing determination regarding eligibility for VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the case is no longer under jurisdiction.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection and increased ratings, except for the claim of bilateral cataracts which is granted.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the housebound criteria was denied in April 2015. The case is being remanded due to a missing May 2017 rating decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective August 26, 2011. The previous decision had incorrectly assigned an effective date of August 25, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran requested and withdrew his appeal for non-service connected pension benefits.

The Board denied the restoration of a 100% rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma effective February 27, 2018, as the evidence did not support a compensable rating due to the disease being in remission.

The Veteran's service-connected meningismus and residuals of acute respiratory distress are not found to meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and his combined noncompensable disabilities do not clearly interfere with normal employability. Therefore, his claims for increased ratings and a combined disability evaluation are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's epididymitis is related to his military service. The previous June 2017 VA examination was found to be internally inconsistent and needs to be corrected.

The Board denied service connection for varicose veins of both the right and left lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Veteran's entitlement to higher ratings for his right and left foot calluses, as well as a TDIU, was granted. The rating for painful calluses of the right and left feet is now at 20 percent effective from March 14, 2014. The rating for the left foot hammer toe disability remains at 10 percent since it already represents the maximum possible under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome with refractory anemia is found to be at least as likely as not related to his conceded herbicide exposure while serving near the Korean DMZ during the Vietnam Era, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's death is not related to his military service, and there is no evidence of ischemic heart disease or other conditions that would qualify for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hand disability is denied as there is no current diagnosis or functional impact in either hand.

The Veteran's son, F.Y., is recognized as a helpless child due to his permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for a right great toe condition and a right leg condition, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.