Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including gastritis and peptic ulcer, is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's muscle and joint pain, which may be related to service in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's service connection for Achilles tendinopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of service connection for gout, which may be related to medications taken for other service-connected conditions, is remanded.

The Board has denied initial compensable ratings for hammer toes of the left and right feet. The case is remanded for further examination regarding service connection for erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for Death and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, finding that the application was not received within a year of the Veteran's death. The appropriate effective date is set as November 28, 2017.

The Veteran's cognitive disability with memory loss is denied as there is no evidence linking it to his service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial ratings for his service-connected left knee conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the validity of a debt and overpayment for DIC benefits. The first issue is whether the $8,452.40 debt was validly created by an earlier effective date of September 4, 2007. The second issue is the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of this overpayment.

The Veteran's hemoglobin C disorder with anemia is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his hemoglobin levels have not been below 13 grams per liter.

The Board found the overpayment of VA disability benefits due to a divorce was valid and granted the indebtedness against the Veteran's account.

The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection issues are addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right-hand disability, characterized by pain, stiffness, weakness and difficulty gripping and twisting, is at least as likely as not causally related to his active service. As such, the claim for service connection for a right-hand disability is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's service during fiscal year 2014 and drill pay received. The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain complete copies of the Veteran’s service personnel records, especially those from the 248th Medical Company in Marietta, Georgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's recurrent ear infections are etiologically related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's memory loss is being remanded for further examination as there has been a change in his cognitive status.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete documentation and a need for further accounting of overpayment amounts.

The Veteran's left forearm disability has been rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating for muscle group VII. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death and denied the claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1318 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's death was attributed to squamous cell esophageal carcinoma. The appeal is remanded due to the lack of personnel records and incomplete information regarding possible radiation exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left arm nerve damage caused by a flu shot is remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the causation and aggravation of his condition.