Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for TDIU, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral carotid artery stenosis on a direct basis, but has remanded the issue of whether it is secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right lung disability, including whether it arose during service or is related to exposure from chemical agents. The case is being remanded for a VA examination and further review.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right hip strain is related to service or secondary to her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he withdrew the appeal before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on daily living.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for education benefits under Chapter 33 of Title 38, United States Code in excess of the 80 percent rate.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s varicose veins did not meet criteria for a higher rating, and her other claims were either denied on their merits or remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a potential issue with the timeliness of the Veteran's request for an extension of his Chapter 30 benefits. The AOJ is instructed to address whether the request was timely filed and, if so, whether an extension should be granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was found to be related to service-connected exposure to asbestos, allowing the surviving spouse to qualify for VA home loan guaranty benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for Crohn's disease, finding that the Veteran's condition began during his military service and is related to his exposure to environmental hazards in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right tibia stress fractures are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective from April 2017.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran qualifies for nonservice-connected pension benefits. The Veteran needs to provide information about his medical expenses from December 5, 2017, to December 31, 2018.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for pleural plaques due to asbestos exposure, finding that there is at least a 50% likelihood that his current condition is related to in-service asbestos exposure. The decision also acknowledges the Veteran's assertions of exposure during service aboard ships containing asbestos.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of an in-service dental injury, incisal edge tooth fracture of #9 (repaired), as there is no evidence that his current condition qualifies for VA compensation.

The Board has decided that the VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's umbilical hernia condition is inadequate and requires an addendum to determine if the condition clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right forearm disability, with symptoms including pain and weakness during flare-ups, has been rated at 20 percent since March 8, 2013. The Board found that the condition met the criteria for a 20 percent rating based on limitation of pronation beyond the last quarter of arc.

Service connection for conversion disorder is granted, and an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted. A TDIU is granted during the period on appeal prior to November 19, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected gouty arthritis of the joints combined with other risk factors to cause his death from cardiopulmonary arrest.

The Veteran's appeals for a total disability rating and special monthly compensation were dismissed due to his death.