Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral club foot with metatarsalgia was denied. Separate noncompensable ratings were granted for hammertoes of the left and right feet.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide adequate assistance in obtaining an examination and considering lay statements.

The Veteran's leg cramps are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to service, especially his right knee disability.

The Veteran is seeking a total disability rating based on individual unemployability for the period prior to September 30, 2016. The case has been remanded due to the RO not issuing a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) for this issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bursitis of the left hip was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing a nexus between the current disability and service.,SMC based on statutory housebound benefits prior to August 4, 2008, was not granted as the Veteran did not meet the criteria at that time.,DEA eligibility for basic education assistance was denied due to lack of permanent total service-connected disability before November 17, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including degenerative arthritis, is granted service connection. Service connection for a left arm disorder and liver disorder (hepatitis C) is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend her delimiting date for Chapter 35 DEA benefits beyond February 2, 2016. The decision states that she did not apply for and establish a course of study prior to December 27, 2001, which would be currently continuing at this time.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma, finding that there was no evidence linking it to active military service. The claim was not reopened as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a mood disorder and Behcet’s syndrome have been denied. The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 60% for Behcet’s syndrome from August 17, 2006 to August 6, 2008.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for nerve damage to the right leg has been remanded due to potential bias in VA's evaluation.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current right and left shin disabilities, including whether they are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis. The claims will be remanded for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pelvic disorder and entitlement to TDIU, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded both the TDIU for accrued benefits purposes and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 claims due to procedural issues, including failure to provide a Statement of the Case (SOC) or Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for esophageal cancer due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to comply with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to issues related to sacroiliitis and fecal leakage. The TDIU claim is also pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for vertebral disc disorder and bilateral leg and feet numbness due to incomplete records from boot camp and AIT in 1984. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide a VA examination for service connection of a bilateral thumb condition. The Veteran's representative argues that he was unable to attend the scheduled examinations due to military orders, and the matter is again remanded to afford the Veteran an opportunity to present for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to persistent or recurrent symptoms of side effects from taking Simvastatin, and a need for an examination to determine if these side effects are service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's left Achilles tendon injury is being reviewed again for a proper medical opinion.

The Board has not fully complied with previous remand directives and the case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left clavicle fracture residuals is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examinations conducted in June 2017 and June 2018. Additional evidence and an examination are needed.