Other conditions decisions — 2020

The appeal for service connection for a skin rash, to include as due to exposure to herbicides, is dismissed because the appellant passed away before any decision could be made.

Service connection for thoracic spondylosis is granted.,Service connection for heart poor circulation of blood, heart (bad valve) is denied.,Service connection for Parkinson's disease is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance benefits at a rate in excess of 60 percent, finding that he did not meet the criteria due to his discharge from active duty not being due to a service-connected disability. The case was remanded and recharacterized as entitlement to Chapter 33 education benefits.

The Veteran's right eye blindness, resulting from complications of cataract surgery in October 2008, was not a reasonably foreseeable outcome and VA compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete treatment records and requests for additional information from the Veteran.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity varicose veins and denied entitlement to a total disability due to individual unemployability prior to April 23, 2018.

The Veteran's left hip disability has been granted a 70% evaluation, but no higher for the period prior to December 11, 2017 and beginning December 11, 2017. The Veteran's abdominal shell fragment wounds with laceration of liver have been granted a 50% evaluation, but no higher for the periods prior to July 24, 2013 and beginning July 24, 2013.,The Veteran is being remanded for further development regarding eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral tarsal tunnel syndrome, finding that there was no current diagnosis of this condition and concluding that her lay statements were not probative.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hip disorders, finding that the evidence did not show a chronic condition in service or within one year of discharge, and that there was no etiological relationship to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 50 percent for service-connected unspecified trauma and stress related disorder is granted, with the condition manifesting symptoms that cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and requests a new VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s current sinus disorders, including his deviated septum.

The Veteran's eye condition, including bilateral senile cataracts and pterygium, is denied as not incurred during military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the submitted DD-214s and unsuccessful attempts to verify the decedent's service. The Department of the Army needs to be contacted for verification of the decedent's qualifying service, including all provided alternative versions of his name, date of birth, and service number.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death, and no service connection issues are addressed.

The Board denied increased ratings for a right Achilles tendon disability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on moderate to marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's appeal for an extra-schedular disability rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected bladder disorder was denied. The Board found that the available schedular rating adequately addressed his symptoms and there were no exceptional or unusual disability picture.

The Veteran's right hand sprain and residuals of a right ring finger fracture are granted, but the compensable rating for the right ring finger fracture is denied. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the April 2019 Board remand directives and has therefore ordered a new examination to determine the nature and cause of any dental condition, as well as VA eligibility for treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board is remanding his claims for esophageal cancer and joint pain/gout. The cause of death claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the pending claims.