Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disorder of the lower legs, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's pain and its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and conducting a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right elbow disability. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Veteran's trigeminal neuralgia, right side, is rated at 30 percent for the entire period on appeal. The Board found that this level of disability approximates severe incomplete paralysis of the 5th (trigeminal) cranial nerve.

The Board found that the reduction in VA disability compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of military service drill pay for Fiscal Year 2015 was proper and denied the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development. The Board found that there has not been substantial compliance with its June 2021 remand directives as they relate to the Veteran's TBI claim.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including consideration of loss of use, is rated at 20 percent. The reduction from 20 to 10 percent was due to a clerical error and has been reinstated.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case, and the Veteran requested a waiver for this additional review. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's hypoxemia, which may be related to service or secondary to his service-connected sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for myocardial infarction due to herbicide exposure. The issues of service connection for cardiomyopathy, ventricular arrhythmia, and heart block are remanded as the Veteran's heart disabilities may be secondary to his service-connected myocardial infarction.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death is related to his service-connected conditions and exposure to Agent Orange. The VA will obtain additional medical records and provide a new opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's medical expenses for his esophageal cancer treatment from October 18, 2018 to October 29, 2018 are being remanded due to the inability to review the actual reasons and bases for the denial of payment. The AOJ is also required to provide adequate notice of the basis for the denial and any additional evidence needed to substantiate the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the claim for payment of medical expenses was resolved by administrative action and no longer remains a question for appellate consideration.

The Veteran's urethral stricture is remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine if the condition was incurred in service.

The Veteran's dementia with Lewy bodies is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no valid matter in controversy regarding the appointment of C.A.'s fiduciary. The appellant was previously appointed as the fiduciary for her minor child, and she signed a fiduciary agreement on May 26, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for his increased rating of left arm disability, finding that the most recent final decision was in November 2014 and the increase occurred within a year prior to the submission of the informal claim on May 5, 2014. The effective date assigned is set at May 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dizziness is being remanded due to inadequate development of the record and a need for further medical examination.