Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied service connection for a heart condition, finding that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation/flutter did not manifest during or within one year after service and was less likely related to herbicide exposure. The issue of skin and lung conditions is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a deviated nasal septum with rhinoplasty as there is no current evidence of such disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an unclear classification of PCOS as a congenital defect or disease, and for further medical opinion regarding its service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's diagnosed benign neoplasm of the prostate constitutes a separate claim from his previous denial of service connection for prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder caused or contributed to her suicide. The VA will obtain additional records and provide a new medical opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was incurred in the line of duty and not due to willful misconduct, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Appellant.

The Board has determined that the appellant is recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of VA benefits due to continuous cohabitation and holding themselves out as husband and wife, despite a legal impediment.

The Veteran's son does not meet the criteria for benefits under 38 U.S.C. §§ 1805 and 1815 because he does not have spina bifida, which is required to qualify for these benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right middle trigger finger is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has ordered the VAMC file related to the claim be located and provided appropriate notice of VA's duties to notify and assist with regard to his claim for entitlement to a fee basis outpatient identification card. The Veteran was not apprised of missing documents, so remand is required.

The Veteran's claim is remanded due to missing VA records from the Battle Creek, Michigan VA Medical Center regarding his submission of a claim for additional benefits for his child B.L. after her birth in 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell cancer of the left base of the tongue, finding that it did not manifest during service or within a year after service and was not related to Agent Orange exposure. The most likely cause is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The current ratings for her service-connected conditions remain unchanged.

The Board has decided that the termination of VA compensation benefits from December 1, 2014 to July 14, 2015 was improper due to the Veteran's fugitive felon status. The case is being remanded for further investigation into whether the Veteran received proper notification of the warrant and if he took any steps that would suggest flight or concealment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot condition due to incomplete STRs and missing post-service medical records. The Veteran needs to provide additional information, including any relevant medical records, and an examination is required to determine if his current foot condition had its onset in or is related to service.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias were not manifested by a workload of greater than 5 but less than 7 metabolic equivalents which resulted in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope; nor was there evidence of cardiac hypertrophy or dilatation on electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, or x-ray. The Veteran's disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and missing records, particularly regarding the impact of medication on the Veteran's death from myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's left hip disability was restored to a 30% rating effective February 1, 2018.,A maximum schedular 40% rating for limitation of flexion of the left hip is granted from June 3, 2013.,A maximum schedular 20% rating for limitation of abduction of the left hip is granted from June 3, 2013.,A maximum schedular 10% rating for limitation of extension of the left hip is granted from June 3, 2013.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia with Barrett's esophagus is rated at a maximum schedular 30%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a skin disorder, finding that there was no relationship between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has decided that the withholding of $1,567 from retroactive VA benefits payments was improper and has ordered a paid and due audit to determine how this amount was derived.