Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for bladder impairment associated with the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that it is less likely than not due to his lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities has been granted, as the evidence shows he requires assistance in attending to the wants of nature.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Wayne Medical Center in Waynesboro, Tennessee on January 4, 2010 has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a scheduled hearing.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of a VA examination for the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, specifically low hemoglobin requiring blood transfusions and stroke. A VA medical examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to his service in Vietnam, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to deficiencies in a previous examination report. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted as there is no current disability related to his military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right upper extremity carpel tunnel syndrome and incomplete paralysis of the right median nerve, finding that these conditions began in service and have continued to the present.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right eye blindness with amblyopia, finding that his claim was received on July 13, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, including GERD, IBS, and SIBO, is considered to have begun during her active military service. The Board found that the evidence supports a conclusion that the Veteran’s gastrointestinal condition was incurred during her military service.

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

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for irritable colon syndrome, the highest available under DC 7319, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of severe diarrhea and alternating diarrhea with more or less constant abdominal distress meet the criteria for this rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for soft-tissue sarcoma is reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected dysphagia and stricture of the esophagus are granted with a separate 30 percent rating, while his reflux and regurgitation associated with dysphagia remain at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her lumbar spine disability is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her service-connected condition, including range of motion testing and functional loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal regarding an overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35, United States Code. The decision found that the removal of the Veteran’s child from his VA compensation award was proper and that the resulting overpayment was valid.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for dental conditions due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination.

Compensation for a left lower trunk brachial plexus injury, plexopathy incomplete, as a result of VA treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted. The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and the issue regarding Graves Disease and hypothyroidism are remanded.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease status post double coronary artery bypass graft) is rated at 100 percent, which covers chronic congestive heart failure.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an effective date prior to November 1, 2016, for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits. The decision states that the effective date is the date of receipt of the claim, which was November 3, 2016.

The Veteran's initial rating for disabilities of the right-hand fingers and PTSD is denied. The effective dates for these conditions are also denied. The Veteran's PTSD claim is remanded for further examination.