Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and therefore no effective date earlier than March 21, 2016 for the grant of service connection for bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the appellant has a form or manifestation of spina bifida, other than spina bifida occulta. The VA needs to obtain private treatment records and schedule an examination for the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, particularly its relation to service in the Gulf War.

The appeal for reimbursement of non-VA medical care at a private facility has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for his heart disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2016 VA examination. A new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of discussion regarding the Veteran's claim that he injured his back in service while working in the supply room. The case is being sent back for an addendum opinion from the September 2019 VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and skin cancer to determine if he had exposure to herbicide agents in service, which would allow for presumptive service connection. The Veteran must provide additional information about his service aboard ships and a night spent at DaNang Air Force Base.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating higher than 0 percent for his service-connected right groin muscle strain is dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a right hip condition and temporary 100% evaluation based on surgery necessitating convalescence due to arthroscopic surgical repair of a right hip labral tear.

The Board denied service connection for onychomycosis (toenail fungus) involving the feet and cysts or lesions on both arms, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.,There is no indication of herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's condition with toenail fungus developed after service, and the Board found it less likely than not related to his time in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for dental conditions, as they are related to his active duty service. The claims were initially developed only for compensation purposes and now need to be reconsidered in light of new regulations regarding treatment purposes.

The Board has determined that the matter is not ripe for appellate review due to procedural issues, and it is remanded for further action.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stroke and its residuals are secondary to his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The appellant's son-in-law, who was the widow's son-in-law, seeks to recover last expenses paid for his mother-in-law during her lifetime. The Board denied this claim as he does not have standing to represent accrued benefits and no evidence of last costs has been submitted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia with syncope and fatigue syndrome, and uterine fibroids (claimed as menstrual disorder syndrome) have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and her military service.,There is no indication of chronic disease or undiagnosed illness related to Southwest Asia exposure in either case.

The Board has decided that additional evidence and an examination are needed to determine if the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right elbow lateral epicondylitis is currently rated at 20 percent from March 21, 2019 for limitation of pronation and supination. The rating remains denied prior to April 23, 2015 for impairment of flexion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for gout due to insufficient consideration of his lay statements and VA treatment records, which may indicate a diagnosis of gout during service. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA examination to determine if his gout is related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lupus and alopecia were denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or exposure to conditions that would support a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a urinary disorder is being remanded due to the VA Central Office not completing all procedures as directed by the M21-1 manual for lost paper files.