Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed before the claim for a TDIU can be resolved, and thus remands the case to obtain additional medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present hip and joint disabilities, including whether they are related to service. The case will be remanded for further examination and review.

The Appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse, thus denying her eligibility for DIC, death pension, and accrued benefits.

The Board denied both the original claim of service connection for the cause of death and the reopening of that claim. The Veteran's cause of death was found to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the case is now closed.

The Veteran's herpes zoster is rated at a 30 percent prior to June 12, 2015 and at a 60 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted, making the issue of the NOD timely moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for dry eyes and an initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction due to insufficient evidence in the record. The VA will conduct examinations to determine if there is a relationship between the current diagnoses and active military service, as well as assess the severity of the erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that there are open medical questions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's fatal adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam, as well as his in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case is being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service records show he had gastrointestinal issues during his military service, including trouble eating and constipation. The VA has ordered a new examination to determine if these conditions are related to his time in Vietnam.

The Board is unclear about when the Veteran had active service and denied his claim for NSC pension. Service personnel records need to be obtained to verify his service periods.

The Veteran's hairy cell leukemia was not present during service or for many years thereafter and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange, during service.

The Board denied service connection for neck pain and loss of motion, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's back injury and its relation to service.

The Veteran's hallux valgus and painful callosities in both feet are rated at the maximum of 10 percent, as they do not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left ring finger and little finger disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, resulting in a combined rating of 20 percent for both fingers.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, characterized by photophobia and optic atrophy, is granted an increased rating of 30 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The appeal for a higher rating in excess of 50 percent from July 1, 2016, forward is denied.

The Veteran's total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy are granted as secondary to in-service uterine fibroids.

The Board found that the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) and thus terminated his non-service-connected disability pension benefits as of February 1, 2015. The Veteran disagreed with this decision.

The Veteran did not have qualifying wartime service for nonservice-connected death pension purposes, and therefore the claim for death pension benefits is denied.