Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder is related to his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected insomnia is remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of an overpayment of Chapter 33 education benefits, finding that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of skin disability and service connection for left eye disability were both denied by the Board. The skin disability claim was denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating, while the left eye disability claim was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an umbilical hernia, finding no evidence linking it to his active military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) from January 1, 2018 to December 1, 2018, and thus denied nonservice-connected pension for this period. However, from January 1, 2018 onwards, the Board has granted nonservice-connected pension as his income did not exceed the MAPR.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an examination for onychomycosis (toenail fungus) and requests that more development be done before final decision.

The Board previously denied the appellant's claim for surviving spouse status, and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) remanded it. The case is being sent back to the AOJ for further review of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right elbow condition. The claim will be reviewed again with an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that there was no earlier informal or formal claim filed after the final April 21, 2011 decision. The Veteran's first claim seeking TDIU was received on April 28, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance has been withdrawn due to his election to opt-in to the modernized review system under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). As a result, the issue is dismissed.

The claim for service connection for bruxism has been reopened, but the appeal is still pending as new evidence does not establish a causal relationship between the condition and service. The case is remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and schedule an examination to determine if bruxism is related to service or any event, injury, or disease during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for eosinophil esophagitis and esophageal ulcer due to his statements about symptoms during service, including exposure to secondhand smoke on submarines. The Veteran must be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate and urinary disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran is presumed exposed to herbicide agents during service, but his conditions are not on the presumptive list.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood and for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including scheduling of a VA examination.

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

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip impairment other than limitation of flexion was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for pain associated with the condition.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for left hip limitation of flexion was also denied. The Veteran demonstrated reduced flexion, but not limited to less than 45 degrees as required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5252.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied due to her failure to complete the VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's deviated septum is not related to his military service.,Service connection for the loss of all teeth secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension because her income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).

The Veteran's service was not during a period of war, so he did not meet the eligibility requirements for VA death pension benefits.