Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to new information about the Veteran's condition, including recent hospitalization.

The Board denied service connection for right-hand and left-hand disorders, finding no current diagnosis of such conditions in the Veteran's records. The claim was dismissed as there was insufficient evidence to support a nexus between the claimed disabilities and active service.

The Veteran's left eye corneal transplant with history of retinal detachment and pseudophakia resulted in a 30% evaluation prior to May 1, 2015. From January 27, 2015 to May 1, 2015, the Veteran was denied an evaluation in excess of 20%. The case is remanded for further action on TDIU.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded.

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for medical services received at a private hospital. The Board has determined that the VA Healthcare System did not receive the necessary VA medical services within 24 months prior to the treatment, and thus remanded for further investigation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's atrial fibrillation, including whether it is related to service or a Gulf War exposure.

Additional accrued benefits in the amount of $198.00 are granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's son, E.J.G., was permanently incapable of self-support due to a mental condition prior to turning 18 years old. The Board granted recognition as the helpless child for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination findings and requests for additional development.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, denying him non-service connected pension benefits. For special monthly pension, the Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his vision, mobility, and ability to perform daily activities.

The Board denied service connection for aural neuroma as there was no evidence linking the condition to military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease and its relationship to his in-service Agent Orange exposure, as well as whether this condition contributed to his death.

The Veteran's scars of the right lower extremity, left lower extremity, and anterior trunk region due to hidradenitis suppurativa are rated as 30 percent disabling since September 12, 2014.,A separate compensable rating for scars of the right upper extremity is denied.

The Veteran's service treatment records and most of his service personnel records are unavailable, so the claim for a dental condition for compensation purposes is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule him for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the DIC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding whether VA's care or treatment caused the Veteran's death. The appellant argues that VA was negligent in prescribing Loratadine, which she contends had complications when combined with his heart condition.

The Veteran's laryngeal malignancy of the right vocal cord was rated as 100% since September 12, 2013. The RO reduced this to noncompensable effective June 1, 2014 due to no recurrence or metastasis. The Board finds that treatment for cancer was completed in November 2013 and there has been no recurrence.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of $8,982.80 in nonservice-connected pension benefits is valid and granted a waiver due to the Veteran's financial hardship.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye central retinal artery occlusion and optic atrophy are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, thus granting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the nasal pinguecula is the same disability as his pterygium, which he is already service-connected for. For the bronchopneumonia claim, the Board remanded it due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for benign skin neoplasms, claimed as scalp cysts due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's heart condition is attributed to a known clinical diagnosis of sinoatrial node dysfunction with implanted cardiac pacemaker, and the Board denies service connection for this condition as due to a Gulf War undiagnosed illness.