Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board found that the Appellant's initial period of service from June 15, 1978 to June 14, 1981 did not serve as a bar to VA benefits. However, his second period of service from June 15, 1981 to July 30, 1982 was characterized as OTH due to an administrative discharge for AWOL and is considered a regulatory bar to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for CLL, monoclonal gammopathy, and a heart murmur due to inadequate development regarding exposure to radiation, herbicide agents, asbestos, and contaminated water during active duty.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis, status post-colectomy, was granted a 100 percent rating prior to May 1, 2015, and the claim has been remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need to ascertain if the Veteran served at least six months of active duty at a higher pay grade than O-2 during his five years of Army Reserve service after his service noted in the 1968 DD Form 214.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for amputation of the right hand, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his service-connected psychiatric disorder and the accident resulting in the amputation.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear findings regarding whether the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC under 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(e)(2) based on paralysis of both lower extremities and loss of anal and bladder sphincter control.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in service and consideration of his TDIU claim. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for his service-connected hallux valgus with arthritic changes.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disability for VA outpatient dental treatment purposes as the Veteran did not meet any of the eligibility criteria, including those related to Class II(a) which requires that the condition be resulting from a combat wound or other service trauma. The Veteran's implants were deemed properly done in-service and there was no indication of military negligence or malpractice.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to April 11, 2019, and for a rating in excess of 20 percent from April 11, 2019.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is not related to service, specifically his exposure to selenium gas during active duty. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for G-6-PD deficiency, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by treatment he received during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Raynaud’s disease, scleroderma and CREST syndrome were denied as there was no evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a respiratory condition and an eye condition have been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, and psoriasis.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for post traumatic arthritis of the left elbow was denied. The rating prior to May 30, 2019 was denied as he did not have limitation of extension to 100 degrees or more. From May 30, 2019, his claim was also denied as he did not meet the criteria for a 75 degree limitation of extension.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including strain and metatarsalgia from old fractures, is rated at 20 percent. Hallux valgus has resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision disability, including cataracts and aphakia resulting in blindness of the left eye, finding that his current condition is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for damage to his front teeth, finding no evidence of a compensable dental disability.

The Veteran's right tibia fracture was caused by or became worse as a result of the December 2010 surgical debridement performed at a VA Medical Center. The Board found that this was not a reasonably foreseeable risk and granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for joint problems, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.