Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for pituitary apoplexy and remanded the issue of service connection for an eye disability, to include bilateral eyesight sensitivity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gallstones (cholelithiasis) with intermittent biliary colic and a bowel disability. The claim for gallstones was not reopened due to lack of new relevant evidence, while the claim for a bowel disability was reopened and granted based on new private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for overactive bladder and mood disorder were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

Your request for an extension of educational benefits in a vocational rehabilitation program was granted, so there is no longer any issue to be decided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for apportionment of his VA compensation benefits because he was providing support for his dependent children and there was no demonstrated hardship.

The Board has granted service connection for a TMJ disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an injury sustained during his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA rating decision did not properly address the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his cause of death, specifically regarding exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The matter is being remanded for further review.

The appellant withdrew her appeal concerning entitlement to an apportionment of the Veteran’s monthly VA compensation benefits on behalf of their child. The Board dismissed this issue as a result.

The Board found that the overpayment of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation benefits was properly created due to the Veteran's failure to promptly notify VA of changes in his dependents' status, resulting in an overpayment. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding the reduction of her right hip strain rating from 10 percent to noncompensable. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has granted a waiver of overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits, finding that recovery would be against equity and good conscience due to the Veteran's financial hardship.

The Board granted the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected VA survivor’s pension at the aid and attendance rate from September 1, 2019. The monthly pension benefit is $1,825 to cover room and board expenses in a care facility.

The Veteran's right patella osteochondral fracture is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of limitation of motion or arthritis that would warrant a higher rating. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right patella osteochondral fracture was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and further examination is required to determine if the Veteran's herpes zoster had its onset in service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected varicose veins of the left leg is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records and conducting appropriate development based on the Veteran's completed VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's left hip degenerative joint disease is related to his active duty service and granted. The Veteran does not have a current left leg disability.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of overpayment of educational assistance benefits as it was not timely filed, despite her assertion that she did not receive the initial debt notification letters.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for otitis media should be remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives and need for an adequate opinion.

The Board denied service connection for syncopal episodes, neurological disorders of the upper and lower extremities, as well as PTSD-related conditions due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's period of service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals of both feet with effective dates set at January 21, 1998.