Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being associated with the record, including reports detailing the Veteran's participation in VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. The appeal is now returned to the AOJ for initial review.

The Veteran's right little finger disability is rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating due to lack of ankylosis or functional impairment that would be equally served by amputation.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as it is no longer in a jurisdictional position.

The Veteran's in-service treatment of Strongyloides and parasitic infections is at least as likely as not related to his death from a cerebrovascular accident, brain abscess, and septicemia with endocarditis. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins of the right lower extremity, finding that there was no medical evidence linking this condition to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating for service-connected trauma, coccygeal region and reopening of claims for inguinal lymphadenopathy and bradycardia have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to missing records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner is needed regarding whether the Veteran developed additional right arm disability as a result of his January 2012 surgery. The issue remains denied.

Your appeal for service connection of a right second toe hammertoe has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip strain is not related to her service and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for esophageal cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his condition and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The decision also noted that the Veteran had served at Camp Lejeune for less than five years, which is required for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for constipation, as secondary to medications used for his service-connected disabilities. An addendum opinion is required from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the constipation is related to or aggravated by medications taken for his service-connected conditions.

The Board dismissed the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a T12 fracture based on pre-surgical and post-surgical treatment at a VA facility from December 2001 to February 2003 due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for shortness of breath and a disability manifesting in memory loss, fatigue, gait instability, and numbness of the left leg (claimed as demyelinating disorder and multiple sclerosis) due to incomplete development. The AOJ is instructed to complete pending development including scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, as claims do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for enteritis, finding no present disability and noting that she already receives compensation for related symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for Reiter’s syndrome due to insufficient explanation and lack of adequate evidence. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently has or ever had Reiter’s syndrome, and which body parts are affected by it.

The Veteran's left eye disability is not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. Therefore, his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye disability is denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 30, 2005 for the award of service connection for systemic lupus erythematosus due to new evidence received after a previous denial.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal prior to the Board making a decision.