Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral shin disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a left hip disability, to include as secondary to service-connected orthopedic disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and his leukemia. The VA is required to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate clinician, preferably an oncologist or physician with expertise in toxicology, to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s leukemia.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, including bone spurs, gynecological disorders and residuals of a hysterectomy, and bladder disorder secondary to the hysterectomy.,The Veteran's claims were not supported by competent evidence linking her current conditions to active duty service.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient proof of payment for caregiver expenses from November 2017 to the present, and thus the case is being sent back for further action.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected chest wall discomfort was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s symptoms did not meet the criteria for a moderate muscle injury, and thus, he is not entitled to an increased rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also remanded as there were no schedular requirements met, but the evidence suggested his service-connected disabilities may preclude him from obtaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case to address a claim of service connection for alopecia, which was not adjudicated in a September 1996 rating decision. The Veteran must be informed of his appellate rights with respect to this decision.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge was due to willful and persistent misconduct, not a minor offense. Therefore, his service cannot be characterized as 'other than dishonorable' for VA benefits purposes.

The Board denied service connection for disabilities of the left and right lower extremities, finding no medical nexus between current diagnoses and in-service incidents or conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right eye disorder, as well as whether any congenital defects were aggravated by in-service trauma. The examiner is asked to provide more detailed opinions on these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination and incomplete records. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for left eye and left side of face paralysis is being reviewed, along with whether additional disabilities were caused or worsened by VA care.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a compensable rating for residuals of fracture of the right ring finger. The Veteran's initial rating for rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder was granted at 20 percent, effective from December 23, 2011. A TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from January 23, 2012, was also granted.

The VA denied the Veteran's request to withhold his separation pay from his disability compensation payments because he already received service connection for a condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a bilateral foot condition is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether any current left eye disability is related to service, including a head injury during service. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver disorder as there is no competent evidence of a current diagnosis at any point during or just prior to the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left vocal cord squamous cell carcinoma and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to follow prior remand directives, specifically not having VHA adjudication of Class eligibility in the first instance under 38 C.F.R. § 3.381.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including congenital megacolon and claimed as constipation due to colon surgery. The remand is due to incomplete VA treatment records and outstanding private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of radiation exposure or chemical hazards during his military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the reduction in VA disability compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of military service drill pay for FY 2014 was proper and denied the appeal.