Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a dry eye disability, but denied service connection for a lung disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for squamous cell carcinoma status post left upper lobectomy, rated as 30 percent disabling prior to October 2, 2010 and 100 percent thereafter, was denied. The current ratings are appropriate given the lack of respiratory symptoms until October 2, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left arm and hand condition, as well as his claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his left shoulder disability. The evidence did not support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions were related to service or secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability.

Your appeal for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses has been dismissed.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a left hip disability that he contends is related to his military service, specifically his MOS as a paratrooper. The VA has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to in-service herbicide exposure or other events during his period of active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to VA care following his April 12, 2001 surgery. The opinion should address if any additional disability is due to negligence or lack of proper skill on the part of VA and if it was reasonably foreseeable.

The Board denied the claim for death pension benefits, finding that the appellant's income exceeded the required maximum annual pension rate (MAPR). The decision was based on incorrect figures regarding her SSA income and medical expenses.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s claim of entitlement to service connection for his muscular dystrophy condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a heart murmur should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether it is related to active service or caused by, proximately due to, and/or aggravated by service-connected asthma.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy regarding the reduction in VA disability compensation due to concurrent receipt of military service drill pay for FY 2015.

The overpayment of VA compensation benefits for a dependent spouse in the amount of $3,105.80 was properly created and the appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records regarding the Veteran's cancer treatment, and a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if his metastatic adenocarcinoma was related to service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board is remanding the case to clarify the Veteran's SSA benefits and determine if he qualifies for nonservice-connected pension benefits before and after turning 65.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an apportionment of his VA compensation benefits, finding that it would cause undue hardship to him and not meeting the criteria for a special or general apportionment.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent for dry eye syndrome and pinguecula of both eyes is remanded due to the need for clarification on whether a purple conjunctival blood vessel in his left eye was aggravated by service-connected conditions, and for ensuring the most appropriate Diagnostic Code(s) are selected for rating his service-connected eye impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected chronic laryngitis has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal within 30 days of receiving the February 2020 statement of the case (SOC) denying additional attorney fees in connection with past due benefits awarded in a September 2018 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including basal cell carcinoma. The Board found that there is no direct link between the claimed disabilities and his military service.