Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral calluses is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of diagnostic imaging for hand disabilities. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if they have any current right or left hand disabilities, including arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and metastatic salivary duct carcinoma, as well as the aggravation of periodontal disease by the metastatic salivary duct carcinoma.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for stroke and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service. The decision also grants service connection for the stroke, finding it more likely than not related to such exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to lack of evidence showing that VA treatment caused or aggravated his gastric ulcer, finding that it was less likely than not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) as additional development is needed, including determining his work history and income over the relevant period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral testicular pain is being remanded due to the failure to issue a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) after receiving new evidence.

The Board has granted an increased initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's Padget-Schroeder syndrome, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 20 percent rating throughout the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's bacterial infection is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to his service-connected Reiter’s Syndrome.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's T12 fracture with fusion, finding that he is experiencing incapacitating episodes of greater than six weeks in the past twelve months. This results in a higher evaluation under the IVDS Formula.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 2016, for the addition of his child as a dependent was denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date had already been assigned due to the one-year period from N.'s birth in January 2012 during which notification could have been made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for deviated nasal septum as new and material evidence was not received, despite the submission of VA medical center records.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran received preventative health services/patient education from VA within 24 months prior to receiving emergency treatment at SMC on July 19, 2017.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including psychosis and schizoaffective disorder, was incurred during service. Service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board has decided that the effective date for DIC benefits should be changed from July 1, 2016 to July 19, 1992, the date of the Veteran's death. However, VA needs to obtain SSA records related to the appellant's claim for widow benefits based on her husband's death.

The Board denied death pension benefits for the Veteran's surviving spouse because the Veteran did not have qualifying wartime service.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for epididymitis as the evidence did not show recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage, hospitalizations, or continuous intensive management.

The Board has decided that the change in the Veteran's means test eligibility category from copay exempt to copay required for income year 2016 was improper and has remanded the case for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia and denied service connection for heart murmur. Service connection for insomnia is granted as the Veteran's current disability is related to his service-connected disabilities, including recurrent major depressive disorder and hypertension. The heart murmur was not aggravated by service.