Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding insurance and billing records, as well as determining whether VA should cover or reimburse the costs under the Veterans Choice Program.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or respiratory problems. The Veteran had been rated totally disabled for less than ten years prior to his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service and a need for further medical opinions regarding the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right elbow disability. The examiner is requested to provide a clear and unmistakable opinion on whether any pre-existing condition existed prior to service, if so, whether it underwent no permanent increase in severity as a result of active service, or if not, whether it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for xerostomia with loss of sense of taste, which he experienced as a result of his service-connected non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The Board found that the evidence supported this finding and resolved any doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran died before his claim for service connection was decided. The Board denied the substitution request because the September 2015 statement in support of claim did not meet VA's new regulations requiring claims to be submitted on standardized forms.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a missed VA examination. The Veteran's gastroenteritis is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's fracture of the right proximal femur and whether his service-connected residuals of a previous femur fracture contributed to or aggravated this new injury.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for residuals from a chin injury, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the effective date for dependent compensation for his child (LEA) cannot be prior to February 17, 2018 due to the one-year waiting period after LEA's birth.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulosis, to include as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoe deformities is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation. The Veteran also has loss of use of both feet which warrants a separate 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation as the previous examination was inadequate and does not account for his reported flare-ups.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the Veteran's left elbow injury, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss or instability of the scar. The current evaluation of 10% is maintained.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of May 27, 2011 for the award of service connection for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Veteran had filed claims prior to this date but did not specifically mention the condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for temporomandibular joint dysfunction, finding that the condition had onset during her period of active service and has persisted since then.

The Veteran's larynx cancer was not diagnosed during or within one year after service, and there is no evidence linking it to his military service. The Board denied service connection as the claim cannot be granted on a direct basis.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for his TDIU because it is a final decision and cannot be changed without a motion to revise based on clear and unmistakable error or a motion to reopen based on new and material evidence.