Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal for service connection for decreased visual acuity is remanded due to inadequate medical nexus opinions and lack of cooperation upon physical testing. The AOJ must obtain updated VA treatment records and request any relevant post-service private treatment records from the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Paget's disease, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left elbow disability, including left epicondylitis, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds it does not warrant an increased evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's visual hallucinations and night-time urinary frequency are related to his stroke. The Veteran will need further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental condition, finding no evidence of a compensable disability that would qualify him for VA compensation or treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye disability, finding that there was no evidence of head trauma during service and insufficient medical opinion to support a nexus between current cataracts and congenital nuclear opacity and service. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the Veteran's contention.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for death pension benefits because she did not provide timely caregiver statements for L.C. and M.S., which are required to determine her eligibility.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's stroke was secondary to radiation treatment for his service-connected squamous cell nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The file is to be reviewed by a similarly qualified examiner to provide opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Board has decided that the January 2017 rating decision denying service connection for essential tremor with shaking and nervous condition was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, but it is remanding the case to formally adjudicate these CUE issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's dementia and his military service, including an in-service head injury. The Veteran is seeking service connection for dementia, which may be related to both his active duty service and his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's equilibrium disorder, which results in hearing impairment with attacks of vertigo and cerebellar gait occurring more than once weekly, is rated at the highest possible level (100%) effective from June 25, 1997.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and fatty tumors, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or direct causation.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was denied because his service-connected disability compensation benefits were greater than the maximum possible pension benefit.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, finding that it is due to his active duty military service.

The Veteran's right elbow condition is granted service connection due to aggravation during active duty. For the period from October 2020 onwards, a 30 percent evaluation for asbestosis is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left fifth finger fracture with Boutonniere deformity, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a compensable rating under any applicable criteria.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate for nonservice-connected disability pension with SMP based on the need of regular aid and attendance, thus denying his claim.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of degenerative joint disease, left hip was denied as there is no evidence that the Veteran had a pending claim prior to July 17, 2001.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.