Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and an initial disability rating for bilateral eye injuries, including residuals of a bilateral eye injury other than vitreous detachment. The case is being returned to obtain updated treatment records and to schedule the Veteran for a VA eye examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's attributable household income for 2016 exceeded the VA National Means Test threshold, resulting in a denial of treatment without copay.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left hand symptoms are related to his service-connected laceration injuries or if they are caused by other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and a previous wrist fracture. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical records, including those from the 1990s, and provide a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no final decision can be made.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent based on limitation of flexion, but the current range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's attributable household income for 2015 exceeded the VA National Means Test threshold, and thus his eligibility category was changed from copay exempt to copay required. The appeal is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, including heterotropia and reduced depth perception. The most probative evidence indicates that her pre-existing eye disabilities were not aggravated by her service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Appellant's income information provided. The AOJ needs to verify her annual income and medical expenses from 2016 to the present, associate relevant SSA or IRS records with the file, and readjudicate the claim.

Your appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of your appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right and left tibia stress fractures due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's knee conditions are also being considered as they may be related to her tibia fractures.

The Veteran requested to withdraw the appeal due to a full waiver of overpayment by the Debt Management Center, and the Board dismissed the case as it has no jurisdiction to review the issue.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable disability rating for photophobia has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his authorized representative.

The Board has found that the directives outlined in the October 2020 remand have not been substantially complied with and is therefore remanding the case for further development.

The Veteran's sibling filed a claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits, but the claim was denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left fifth finger disability, which includes neurological impairment and hand spasms.

The Veteran's fatigue is a symptom of his service-connected PTSD and other diagnosed conditions, not a distinct condition for which service connection can be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chest disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury and that his current condition does not appear to be related to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's TMD and his service-connected conditions, specifically his PTSD and anxiety disorders.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion on the Veteran's lung disability, including whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected rhinosinusitis and other disabilities. The Veteran also needs an opinion regarding the cause and aggravation of his obesity.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examinations and outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran's respiratory disorder rating is currently at 30 percent effective March 17, 2021.