Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to the failure of the AOJ to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for the nonservice-connected pension claim. The Veteran must file a timely substantive appeal if he wishes to proceed with this matter.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for earlier effective dates, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's income exceeded the applicable maximum annual pension rates, resulting in a denial of non-service-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board has found that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's ulcerative colitis (claimed as autoimmune colitis) is related to his military service, specifically his presumed exposure to herbicidal agents such as Agent Orange.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction and his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues with scheduling a VA examination and confusion regarding the Veteran's address. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for TMJ is being returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left leg conditions, finding that further medical opinions are needed to resolve the issues. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records and arrange for an addendum opinion from a VA physician.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes, finding that there was no evidence of loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible due to trauma or disease other than periodontal disease.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for calcified mediastinal lymph node, previously claimed as shortness of breath. However, the Board denied the claim due to a lack of evidence showing that the current disability began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of septectomy and denied service connection for gastrointestinal disability. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10%.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound was dismissed because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to her ability to work full-time despite her conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for prostatitis and has determined that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The evidence shows that the Veteran had a diagnosis of prostatitis during service, and continued treatment for it post-service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the relationship of the Veteran's right hip disorder to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current right hip disorder is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for stroke, right side paralysis, and special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for nephrolithiasis and associated hematuria, finding that the Veteran's conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disorders, including osteoarthritis related to SCFE requiring total hip arthroplasty (THA), as these conditions are found to be directly related to his active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his military service, specifically herbicide exposure and/or his service-connected heart disability.