Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA treatment records and an outdated VA examination. The Veteran's disability may have worsened since his last examination, so he needs to be evaluated again by VA.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's gallbladder stones and removal first manifested during service, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disorder and a dental disorder, as well as the grant of higher disability ratings for kidney stones. The effective date for the 20% rating for kidney stones was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation were denied. The rating for residuals of a left hand gunshot wound with amputation, ankylosis, and degenerative changes was not granted higher than 40%. Ratings for scars, median nerve impairment, painful right shoulder scar, and neurological impairment related to the right foot wounds were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot Morton's neuroma, status post excision, is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent. The Board denied a higher rating as there are no other applicable diagnostic codes and the condition already has the highest possible rating.

The Board has vacated the decision on nonservice-connected pension due to the Veteran's death and dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has granted recognition of C. as the Veteran's child for the purpose of additional dependency compensation based on a signed acknowledgment that the Veteran is the biological father.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for periodontal disease as the Veteran did not provide necessary information and failed to allege specific errors of fact or law.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as there is insufficient vocational information and work history to determine if he stopped engaging in substantial gainful activity due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial compensable rating prior to April 19, 2017, and a higher rating thereafter for left eye nerve damage with exotropia due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to attend a scheduled VA examination and for obtaining updated treatment records. The examiner is requested to assess the current severity of his service-connected right eye disorder, including any new symptoms such as flashes of light and loss of depth perception.

The Veteran's appeal of a claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's gastroparesis, particularly whether it is related to his service-connected conditions or if it may be considered a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives and requests for a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate disability.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection issues were decided.

The Veteran's service-connected Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is in remission and has not recurred or metastasized since his treatment in 2016. The Board denied a compensable rating for the condition from September 1, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral ear disabilities due to incomplete development and a need for an addendum opinion from another clinician.

A separate rating of 20 percent for limitation of abduction of the right hip is granted from January 19, 2011 to January 2, 2018. A higher or separate rating under any other diagnostic codes pertaining to the hip and thigh prior to January 2, 2018 are not met. Since March 1, 2019, a rating of 70 percent for total right hip replacement is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's liver disorder is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. A VA medical opinion is needed to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's condition and his service.