Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the Board has no further jurisdiction in this matter.

The Veteran's overpayment of education benefits is being remanded for a determination on whether the overpayment was properly created and for an assessment of financial hardship.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a right big toe disability. The Veteran's current hallux rigidus, a form of arthritis, is found to be related to his in-service injury. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a right big toe disability is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hammer toes of both feet, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to her active service or to her service-connected hallux valgus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's skin disorder claim should be returned to the AOJ for consideration of new evidence. The case will be reconsidered with this additional information.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, diagnosed as Other Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder, is found to be related to his service experiences. The Board granted the claim after resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left leg disability is rated at 20% for the entire appeal period, and his service connection claims for thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for syncope but denied service connection for head injury. The right ankle traumatic arthritis remains at a 10% rating.

The Veteran's death was not related to service, but a remand is required due to incomplete VA examination and new arguments from the Appellant regarding potential late diagnosis by the VA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral inguinal hernias and associated scars, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen previously denied service-connection claims for bad dreams, bilateral foot pain, and back pain are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and instructed VA to attempt to obtain private medical records from Reading Hospital-Tower Health. The cause of death claim will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for multiple myeloma has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and restoration of a disability rating for his bilateral retinal holes is remanded due to the addition of new VA treatment records that need to be reviewed by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU prior to February 7, 2011 has been dismissed as the claim was opted-in under the Appeal Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty in the etiology of endocarditis, which is not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's service record includes a period within Vietnam during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his back disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right elbow degenerative joint disease status post dislocation is denied as his claim was not received until May 9, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for left eye optic nerve damage as the condition was noted at entry into service and did not permanently increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's claims for Grave’s disease and skin rash have been reopened, and a 20% rating has been granted for the residuals of SFW to the right elbow.