Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has granted an effective date of January 22, 2014 for the grant of service connection and SMC for loss of use of both feet. The Veteran's claim was filed on this date.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining quality assurance records related to the Veteran's treatment at a VA facility in February 2010.

The Veteran's spouse, M. G., is recognized as his dependent spouse for VA purposes from January 22, 2010 to November 19, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's laryngeal cancer, specifically related to exposure at Camp Lejeune and possible exposure in Puerto Rico. The Veteran is also offered an opportunity to provide more detailed information about his alleged exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for sacro-iliac injury and weakness has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial, compensable rating for tendonitis of the right middle finger is being remanded due to inadequate examination and outstanding treatment records. A more contemporaneous VA examination is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the DIC benefits claim due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for an opinion on the cause of the decedent's opioid use condition(s). The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye disability and refractive error of the eyes, finding no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected limitation of extension of the bilateral thighs is being remanded due to incomplete examination and lack of information regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral calcaneal spurs and calcific achilles tendonitis is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from his treatment providers.

The Board denied eligibility as the Veteran's surviving spouse, thus denying claims for death pension benefits, accrued benefits, and service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to acute leukemia and essential thrombocythemia/myelofibrosis, finding that the Veteran's skin condition (eczematoid dermatitis) was not related to his military service or his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the cases of TDIU and service connection for a dental condition due to missing medical evidence in the claims file.

The Veteran's somatic symptom disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability as characterized by occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for dizziness, fainting, and memory loss due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's symptoms need further evaluation by a VA examiner.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for blood clot, portal vein associated with hepatitis C due to new evidence submitted since the final January 1999 rating decision. The case is now remanded for further development and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected compression fracture L1, claimed as back injury, is remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examination and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not substantially comply with previous remand instructions and requires further development to ensure proper contact with the interested party (H.L.) regarding the issue of recognition as a surviving spouse. The appeal will be returned for this purpose.

The appeal was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision could be made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's loss of smell and taste was caused by carelessness, negligence, or other fault on the part of VA. The AOJ must obtain an independent medical opinion from an otolaryngologist to address these issues.