Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for compensable ratings for onychomycosis of the right and left feet toenails has been denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an inguinal hernia, finding that there is no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to link the condition to service.

The Veteran's neurological disorder of the upper left back is currently rated at 20 percent, and a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial ratings greater than 10 percent for varicose veins of the right lower extremity and spider angiomata of the left thigh were denied. The conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's gout is rated higher than 20% for the left wrist, right wrist, and ankles. The Veteran also received a TDIU prior to March 13, 2019. Effective dates are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatomegaly, which is secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, status post MI, CABG, and stent, has been remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher disability evaluation for intervertebral disc syndrome due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the DIC claim for further development due to pending substitution requests and other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and an incorrect legal standard in a previous opinion. The Veteran's eye disability needs further examination by a VA examiner.

The Veteran's respiratory disorder, including lung nodules and mediastinal lymphadenopathy, is remanded for additional development to determine if it is related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for death pension and aid and attendance benefits, finding that the claims were not filed until February 7, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for gout, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's service or due to his hypertension. The decision also noted that gout may be considered as arthritis and examined whether it was caused by service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service from February 14, 2011 to February 16, 2012 may qualify as active duty under Chapter 33 of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. However, further development is needed to determine if his service meets the qualifications for this type of active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right foot injury. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his condition is moderate, moderately severe, or severe.

The Board denied service connection for beta thalassemia with retinal hemorrhage, finding that the Veteran's preexisting condition was not aggravated by service and thus meeting the direct service connection criteria.

The Veteran's death was caused by septic shock due to metastatic gastric cancer. The service-connected calcified granulomatous complex aggravated the Veteran's condition, leading to his death.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disability as the appellant's authorized representative withdrew the request for a hearing and indicated they wanted to withdraw the appeal completely.

The Board has determined that the September 2015 VA examination is insufficient for adjudicative purposes and remands the case for a new examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left foot fifth metatarsal pain at attachment of the peroneus brevis tendon.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and the case is no longer under jurisdiction.

The Veteran died from a cardiac arrest, which was not related to his military service. The Board denied the appellant's claims for accrued benefits and VA survivor's pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.