Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for initial ratings for residuals of fractures of the right and left feet has been granted.,The Veteran's bladder disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and a compensable rating for his right shoulder scar are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of whether evaluation should be under different diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's prostate cancer disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current level of his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and a right eye condition due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA is required to obtain addendum medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service, including exposure to herbicide agents, and whether they were caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for brain thrombosis, left upper extremity paralysis, and left lower extremity paralysis as they are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

A 20% rating has been granted for DJD of the right hip with limitation of flexion of the right thigh as of December 11, 2020. The Veteran's disability picture due to limitation of flexion more closely approximates the criteria for a 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's alcohol dependence is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, as well as any personality disorders he may have.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, chronic granulocytic leukemia, did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease. The VA examiners' opinions support this conclusion.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for left eye pterygium prior to June 21, 2019 is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected left eye pterygium from June 21, 2019 to October 31, 2019 is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected left eye pterygium from November 1, 2019 is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's trigger thumb, left hand disability and TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities need further development. The decision is remanded for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the trigger thumb, left hand.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for a left leg disability, including leg amputation, lack of blood flow and oxygen, lymphadenitis, and/or cellulitis is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disorder, specifically his claims for service connection. The AOJ is required to obtain and associate all outstanding VA treatment records from the Louisville VAMC and provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease due to inadequate examination and missing information from a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for TDIU and SMC benefits prior to February 1, 2014 due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status. The RO is instructed to confirm the Veteran's employment after his previous employer (SPC Corporation) and obtain information from the IRS and SSA about his work history. They are also directed to contact SPC Corporation for any accommodations made during his employment.

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

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the addition of the Veteran's spouse, C.L.H., to his award of VA disability compensation. The decision found that no claim was filed prior to May 3, 2018.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 20, 2015 due to service-connected neck and back disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for lipomas, finding that the Veteran's lipomas are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for ulcerative colitis and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for ileostomy surgery due to insufficient development in previous decisions.