Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and conflicting examination reports. The Veteran's respiratory disability is being reviewed, along with any potential neurologic disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for restoration of a 60 percent rating for actinic keratosis of the torso and extremities is granted, effective September 1, 2018. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right talonavicular joint arthritis is related to her active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to confusion regarding whether the Veteran has a current cold weather residual of the feet and if so, whether it is related to service. The case will be further developed to clarify these issues.

The Board denied a temporary total rating based on hernia repair surgery performed in April 2013, finding that the Veteran's records did not document required convalescence or severe postsurgical residuals.

The Veteran's residuals of empyema and pneumonia were not caused by VA care, despite the initial misdiagnosis. The Board found that the VA medical opinions provided in July 2019 and November 2020 were inadequate due to an inaccurate factual premise.

The Veteran's brain cancer, diagnosed as anaplastic astrocytoma, was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or any presumptive conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and the need for additional evidence. The case will be reconsidered after all necessary steps are taken.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 29, 2014 has been dismissed as there is no pending appeal regarding the effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination of the Veteran's ankle and lower leg, which is necessary for a proper evaluation of his service-connected residuals of a right fibula fracture.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to an inadequate medical opinion on record.

The Board granted the appellant's claim as the Veteran's surviving spouse for DIC and death pension benefits, finding that she had a common law marriage with the Veteran for more than one year prior to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left leg tendonitis, including as due to his service-connected hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding of current disability related to active service or any incident of service.

The Veteran's death was not due to an acute attack, but rather a lingering illness. The appellant filed for reimbursement of last sickness and burial expenses, but the Board denied the claim as there was no evidence that the appellant paid any of these expenses.

The appellant's claim for accrued benefits was denied because it was received more than one year after the Veteran's death, which is beyond the legal requirement.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the August 1995 rating decision, which may affect the service connection for a gynecological disability manifested by dysmenorrhea and anemia. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again with consideration of the Persian Gulf War presumption.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis, status post proctocolectomy, was reduced from a 100% rating to a 30% rating in November 2014. The Board found this reduction improper and restored the original 100% rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's acute venous embolism and thrombosis of the lower right extremity and his service-connected disabilities, including exposure to herbicides.