Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous remands and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate and bladder disorders due to Agent Orange exposure or secondary to hypertension with kidney failure and history of kidney transplant. The case requires new VA examinations to address the etiology of these conditions, specifically whether they are related to service, Agent Orange exposure, or other medications.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right clavicle disability and post-traumatic torn ligaments of the metacarpal and carpal joints of the long and ring fingers with arthritis have been denied.,The Veteran does not meet the schedular criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5201, 5223-5010, or any other applicable codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a bone condition, including osteopenia, due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to a higher disability evaluation for dysthymic disorder and an earlier effective date for the increased rating are being remanded due to additional relevant VA treatment records having been added to the record since the most recent Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chest pains is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's left and right shin splints are granted with a 10% rating, but no higher. The service connection for tension headaches is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection claim is left for consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for service-connected lung disability has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of his claim.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of injuries to the teeth (claimed as two teeth knocked out and two cracked teeth) for compensation purposes due to lack of evidence showing that the loss of these teeth could not be replaced by suitable prosthesis.

The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for a right hip disability is granted. The Veteran's right hip trochanteric bursitis is found to be related to her pre-existing injury prior to service, and the claim is remanded for further development regarding costochondritis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and the nature of his lung disorders. The case will be returned for further investigation and examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was malignant neoplasm of the colon. The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen his claim for service connection, but the case is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for updated medical records and a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's dysthymic disorder.

The Veteran's right hip disabilities, including limitation of abduction and flexion, are currently rated at 10 percent. The appeal is granted as the reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable was improper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left Achilles tendon rupture did not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent during the initial rating period from December 10, 2008.

The Veteran's initial disability evaluations for motor neuron disease of the right and left lower extremities were denied. The Veteran's increased disability evaluations for motor neuron disease of the right and left lower extremities from August 12, 2019 were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for brain cancer, including as due to exposure to herbicide agents during service, has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for abdominal stab wound and appendectomy, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to support reopening of the claim.

The Board has decided that the right leg lymphedema claim should be reviewed again due to new evidence. The case is sent back to the original decision maker for further review and consideration of this new information.