Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's February 2018 submission does not meet the criteria for an effective complete withdrawal of his appeal. The issues on appeal include a temporary total rating for right leg status post TKA and entitlement to a minimum rating of at least 30 percent for right leg status post TKA from October 1, 2016 to September 5, 2017. The Board has also determined that remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with an adequate examination and to fully develop his claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's infertility claim, specifically whether it is related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an A&A examination, as scheduling was not done as per the previous directives. The appellant's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) by reason of need for aid and attendance or being housebound is still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's Sjogren’s syndrome and its relationship to his service-connected fibromyalgia. The VA must obtain additional medical opinions to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for higher disability evaluations for his unspecified depressive/dysthymic disorder and cervical spine DJD was denied. The Veteran also had a successful TDIU claim from July 11, 2008.

The Board has decided that the medical expenses claim cannot be processed due to missing records and has ordered the AOJ to reconstruct the record and upload all documentation related to the appeal.

The Board denied the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to VA benefits without a bar based on character of service, finding that the decedent's character of discharge is still a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hallux valgus and left foot hallux rigidus due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for an overpayment in the amount of $6,228.00 due to pension benefits being terminated retroactively because the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR). The decision also considers financial hardship and concludes that recovery would cause undue hardship.

The Board denied service connection for B-cell lymphoma, headaches, syncope, and a genitourinary disability. The decision found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a gallbladder disability, finding that the Veteran's gallbladder condition is not related to his active military service.,The Board also denied service connection for a stomach ulcer condition, concluding that there was no evidence linking it to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and aortic aneurysm due to inadequate medical nexus opinions. Additional development is required.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a right leg condition. The claims of increased rating for large partial tear of the right supraspinatus tendon and posterior labrum tear, service connection for a right upper extremity neurological disorder, and TDIU prior to November 30, 2011 are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence, rated at 40% since July 13, 2011, and now at 60%, is granted effective December 1, 2016. A higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided that the clothing allowance claim for 2013 needs to be reviewed again due to missing documentation. The AOJ is instructed to reconstruct and upload all relevant records related to this appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's left shoulder disability, specifically his ankylosis and recurrent dislocation. The Veteran will need another VA examination to clarify these issues.

The Board has decided that the clothing allowance claim cannot be processed due to missing documentation, and it is being sent back for the AOJ to reconstruct the record and upload all relevant documents.

The Veteran's right foot disability was evaluated as 30 percent disabling for residuals of a right foot fracture.,The claim for SMC based on loss of use of the right foot is denied due to lack of evidence of loss of use.

The Veteran's left eye disability is being remanded for a determination on whether it was caused by carelessness, negligence, or fault during his January 2015 cataracts surgery at the VA medical center.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease results in severe symptoms with numerous attacks a year and malnutrition, resulting in health only being fair during remissions. The Board has granted an increased rating of 60 percent for the Veteran's Crohn's disease.