Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia patella, bursitis, and meniscal tear, is currently rated at 10 percent since January 1, 2020.,A separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage has been granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for left shin splints, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has identified errors in the pre-decisional duty to assist and is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining financial records and military drill pay information.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder other than his service-connected GERD and IBS, specifically related to his in-service treatment for inguinal hernia.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate May 2019 VA opinion and a need for a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for HTN, to include as due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has met the criteria for service connection and there is no evidence against this finding.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding records and a need for a new VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hand/forearm disability and rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee and right knee disabilities, finding that his conditions were not directly related to service or service-connected conditions.

The veteran's service in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) does not count towards the six years of total service required for loan guaranty eligibility, thus denying his claim for VA home loan guaranty benefits.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from the Navy was dishonorable and constituted a statutory bar to VA benefits, as he was discharged under general under honorable conditions due to misconduct.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand disability is due to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran had vitreoretinal peripheral retinal degeneration and pinguecula during service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by loss of smell, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such a condition and giving more probative weight to the competent medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, including bilateral lattice degeneration with atrophic holes and blepharitis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a disorder manifested by joint and muscle pain, weakness, fevers, and frequent colds is denied as the evidence does not support a link to his active service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a left lower extremity neurological disability, finding that the Veteran does not have such a disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran's radiating back pain is part of his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding earlier effective dates for dependency status and service connection for a left eye disability. The AOJ needs to contact the San Diego RO to obtain correspondence from 1975 to 1976, including any notice of disagreement related to the October 1974 rating decision denying service connection for a left eye disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart block with implanted cardiac pacemaker, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board has remanded two issues: one regarding the evaluation of service-connected status postnasal fracture with residual effects, and another to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for upper back pain. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations to address these issues.