Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board denied service connection for right foot condition, left foot condition, and skin condition. The evidence did not show a relationship between the conditions and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left hallux valgus status/post bunionectomy with degenerative joint disease was denied. The highest available rating of 10% has been assigned since the original date of service connection, July 12, 2000.

The Veteran's breast cancer was not found to be related to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation from the Chernobyl accident. The Board denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence received after the October 2017 supplemental statement of the case, which includes a VA examination report dated May 2018. The Veteran's right thumb injury residuals are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for urinary incontinence has been granted, but the appeal regarding downstream issues (ratings and effective dates) is dismissed as the Veteran did not file an NOD form.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome has been rated at 40 percent since June 30, 2014. The Board found that the disability does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of spinal ankylosis or incapacitating episodes over the past 12 months.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for a rating greater than 10 percent for back strain and service connection for left hand injury due to the death of the appellant.

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

The Veteran is seeking TDIU for the period prior to February 16, 2010. The Board has found that further development is necessary due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is rehabilitated as defined by VA regulations and thus, denied Chapter 31 benefits.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development due to the Veteran's inability to be reached during VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for respiratory symptoms, which may be related to environmental exposures in Southwest Asia, including burn pits.

The Board has decided that the claim for a higher rating for bilateral pseudophakia, bilateral hypertensive retinopathy, and right eye epiretinal membrane is remanded due to conflicting opinions from previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent since February 11, 2019. The claims for higher ratings and service connection are still pending.

The Board denied service connection for a liver disorder, including as secondary to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiner's opinion concluded that the etiology of the hepatic hemangioma is unknown and unknowable.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right eye injury due to lack of credible evidence linking an in-service right eye injury to his current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of extraschedular ratings for hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as TDIU. These matters are intertwined with new claims filed by the Veteran regarding nausea and dizziness.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses at UIHC were denied because a VA facility was feasibly available for his emergency care, and he did not attempt to use it.

The Board has denied service connection for Crohn's disease and a nerve disorder of the right and left forearms. The knee issues are remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if they are related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for VA rating purposes, including a need for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right side weakness and stroke residuals, claimed as neuropathy. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.