Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for scleroderma with Raynaud's syndrome, due to chemical and Agent Orange exposure is dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and for further review of the Veteran's military personnel records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for right foot injury residuals, which may be related to an incident in September 2004 where he was run over by a Humvee.

The Board denied entitlement to disability compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic abdominal neurogenic pain, post-right adrenalectomy surgical intervention due to VA medical treatment in April 2012, finding that the evidence did not support a claim of additional disability caused by VA care.

The Veteran's dysthymia was not manifested by deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood prior to October 8, 2019. The Board denied a rating higher than 50 percent for dysthymia prior to that date and denied a rating higher than 70 percent from that date.

The Veteran's hip tendinitis is rated at 10 percent prior to October 1, 2019 and from February 22, 2020. From October 1, 2019 to February 21, 2020, the Veteran's hip tendinitis does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran is unable to cross his legs due to hip tendinitis from February 22, 2020.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the case is not about service connection.

The Board denied an appeal regarding the creation of a VA compensation overpayment, finding that the Veteran failed to notify VA promptly after his divorce and was therefore liable for the overpayment from November 2012 until August 2017.

The Veteran's death does not qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he was not rated as totally disabled at any point before his death.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal in September 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination for service connection of a skin condition, which may be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis due to inadequate examination and lack of imaging studies. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine if he has arthritis in his elbows, shoulders, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions or exposure to hazardous chemicals.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral pterygium, finding that his corrected distance visual acuity was no worse than 20/40 bilaterally prior to June 4, 2019 and from June 4, 2019. The Veteran did not have any incapacitating episodes during the appeal period.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, including issues related to service connection for a right eye disability and increased ratings for TBI and neurocognitive disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a rupture of the left patellar tendon, finding no evidence to support direct or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board found that his non-service-connected COPD condition significantly contributed to his unemployability, but this condition could not serve as a basis for a total disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory condition, including bronchial, cold and lung conditions, finding that there is no credible medical evidence to support a causal link between exposure to burn pits or oil fires and COPD. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the Veteran's contentions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of insomnia disorder with difficulty maintaining sleep, muscle disability or disease, and unspecified neurocognitive disorders due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for duodenal ulcer with gastritis due to a lack of recent medical evidence and the need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right wrist disability was denied as he is already receiving the maximum available rating under the applicable diagnostic code.