Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's son, A.T.H., is recognized as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to the age of 18.

The Board has determined that the procedural steps for a simultaneously contested claim have not been completed, and thus remands the case to ensure full compliance with the required procedures.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain recent VA medical records to assess his current level of upper extremity impairment and whether he has loss of use due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a TDIU due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's prior vocational history, work experience, education, and how his service-connected disabilities affect his ability to secure or follow substantial gainful employment. The Veteran is required to provide a fully-executed VA Form 21-8940 detailing their employment history and current situation.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner and the need for additional evidence regarding flare-ups.

The Board has ordered a new examination to assess the current status of the Veteran's right achilles disability due to an incomplete assessment in a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded several claims due to outstanding SSA disability records for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including those of the spine and lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to attend a scheduled VA examination. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that any residuals of a left facial injury, including any associated left eye disorder(s), were incurred or due to his active duty service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including dementia, is rated at 100% throughout the initial rating period. The issue of a TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the Veteran already receiving a 100% rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider relevant evidence. The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms have been ongoing since service, but the VA examiner did not take this into account.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any diagnoses relevant to the claimed right hip injury, sleep difficulties, or head trauma. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right arm disability, left arm disability, and upper respiratory disability other than pneumothorax. The Board found no evidence of such disabilities during service or within one year post-service, and concluded that any current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder and B cell lymphoma, finding that the disorders were not incurred in or related to service. The decision also noted that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and failure to refer for extraschedular consideration. The Veteran's right eye disability requires further evaluation, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and information about work absences.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for complex regional pain syndrome of the left lower extremity is being remanded due to missed VA examinations. The Board will provide another opportunity for a VA examination.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, including COPD and fibrotic lung disease with low MET, is attributable to service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Board denied higher ratings for De Quervain's disease of the wrists and bilateral CTS, finding that there was no evidence of ankylosis or more severe impairment at any point during the period under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an SOC regarding payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Orthopedics of Jackson Hole on April 4, 2017. The Veteran and his representative will be advised of the time limit to perfect an appeal if applicable.

The Veteran's service-connected benign bone lesion of the left acromion is not manifested by any compensable disability prior to October 13, 2016. Effective October 13, 2016, his condition is manifested by limitation of motion of the left arm midway between the side and shoulder level.,The Veteran's service-connected opacification of the maxillary sinus is not more disabling than currently evaluated during either period of time at issue in this appeal. Effective October 13, 2016, his condition is manifested by 6 non-incapacitating episodes of sinusitis in the previous 12 months.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it.