Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's hip condition may be related to her service-connected right ankle disability, but more evidence is needed to determine this.

The Veteran's nerve disabilities and respiratory disability are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology, including whether they are related to service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stroke residuals is remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition. The claim for SMC based on a need for regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's currently diagnosed tumid lupus is a separate and distinct condition from his service-connected dyshidrosis. The VA needs to obtain a new examination to clarify this relationship.

The Veteran's pancytopenia, including myelodysplastic syndrome, is being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding radiation exposure.

The Veteran's mood disorder is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has ordered a remand to determine if her symptoms warrant an increased rating. Additionally, the effective date for TDIU must be determined after resolving the issue of increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current throat disability, including larynx cancer and vocal cord dysplasia, and his service. The Veteran contends that these conditions are related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a right foot fracture to the third metatarsal and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was dismissed because the Veteran passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding the severity of the Veteran's right hip disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess his current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand posttraumatic arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current disability is due to an in-service injury and continuity of symptoms since then.

The Veteran's skin condition, dermatographism, is not rated as compensable due to the extent of affected areas and treatment with topical creams only.

The Board is unable to determine the validity of the overpayment of Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) education benefits in the amount of $6,451.09 due to unclear calculations and needs clarification.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of paroxysmal hemicrania/encephalo syndrome was denied as the earliest date his claim could be considered is June 28, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to schedule a VA examination for an eye disability. The Veteran's symptoms and diagnoses need to be evaluated, and his service connection claim must be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected hiatal hernia, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on symptoms such as persistent recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation.

The Veteran's claim for travel reimbursement was denied because she did not file her application within 30 days of completing the travel, as required by VA regulations.

The Veteran's service after September 2001 did not qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits due to the lack of qualifying active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for frequent urination incontinence as secondary to his service-connected lower back disability, finding that there was no medical evidence linking the condition to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses at Cape Coral Hospital on February 7, 2016 is granted due to the unexpected exacerbation of back pain requiring emergency treatment. The nearest VA facility was over two hours away and unavailable.