Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hip conditions and his military service. The TDIU claim was granted as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's arthritis of the neck is related to service, whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities, and whether it is aggravated by those disabilities. The examiner must provide opinions based on the Veteran's service treatment records showing chronic arthritis in May 1999, the May 1983 service examination, the October 1985 separation examination, and the 1993 cervical spine imaging report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is related to her active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service or exposure to asbestos and herbicide agents.

The Veteran's right hip disability, including post-surgical residuals, is rated at 50 percent effective October 1, 2015.

The Board has found that the medical opinions of record do not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his continuity of symptomatology and have ordered another remand to obtain a medical opinion supported by a sound rationale.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a back injury, including left side pain and left foot injury are related to an in-service injury. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastritis, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his active duty service and sustained use of NSAIDs for treatment of his service-connected bilateral foot condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any diagnosed skin disorders are related to service, including exposure to herbicides and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding the incident resulting in the Veteran's death, including obtaining an accident report and local newspaper reports. The cause of death is being considered under a direct service connection theory.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an unspecified personality disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a July 2020 statement.

The Veteran's claim for retroactive VR&E benefits was denied because she did not meet the criteria for entitlement to vocational rehabilitation services under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 31 due to her employment status and service-connected disabilities.

The claim for service connection and compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left lower extremity peroneal nerve disability with foot drop is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is dismissed because such benefits cannot be paid after the death of the veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records, and the claim for service connection for a chronic groin condition will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's pancreatitis, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by pain medications prescribed for his service-connected right foot disability.

The Veteran's left elbow injury with limited flexion and supination is rated at 20% from December 18, 2019.,A separate 20% rating for the left elbow injury with limited supination/pronation has also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further evaluation due to evidence indicating that the Veteran's condition may have worsened since his most recent VA examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for an eye disorder has been granted. However, the Board found that there is no evidence linking his current eye disorders to his in-service right eye injury and thus denied the claim.

The Board is remanding the case to verify if VA paid for the Veteran's care at Nurse Care of Buckhead, a private nursing home facility. The decision will be based on this verification.