Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral medial meniscectomy, finding that the evidence does not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has decided that a higher rating for cataracts is needed and has ordered further development.

The Board has granted service connection for insomnia and denied service connection for low testosterone treatment, including as secondary to service-connected prostate cancer residuals or an erectile dysfunction disability.

The Board has remanded the claim for a gynecological disability due to insufficient evidence and because VA did not provide proper notice regarding attempts to obtain private medical records from St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information regarding last sickness expenses and special monthly pension benefits. The Appellant needs to provide a full accounting of all such expenses, and VA needs to conduct a paid and due audit for the specified period.

The Board has denied increased ratings for chronic shin splints of the right and left lower extremities, with one issue remanded for further development.

The Board found that the reduction of survivors' pension benefits for the period from February 1, 2004 to June 30, 2015 was proper and denied the appeal regarding termination of survivors' pension benefits effective July 1, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for spondylolisthesis L5 and S1 with persistent back pain prior to February 12, 2020 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for spondylolisthesis L5 and S1 with persistent back pain from February 12, 2020 is remanded due to the need for clarification regarding ankylosis findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cellulitis as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died before a hearing could be held, and thus there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the pension reduction claim.

The Veteran's right hip strain and left thigh limitation of extension have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent, effective from the dates specified. The appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for throat damage is dismissed because the proper form was not used to initiate the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an incomplete review of a VA Form 9 dated in June 2016, which was not reviewed by the August 2019 VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the appellant's service with the Michigan Army National Guard and her eligibility for veteran status.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine the validity of a debt in the amount of $5,128.15 for payment of educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33. The AOJ must resolve discrepancies in payments and clarify the total overpayment before determining if VA was solely responsible for the appellant being erroneously paid benefits.

The Veteran's body aches, including degenerative changes in the hips and neck, are not considered to be related to herbicide exposure during service. The Board found that there is no evidence of such relationship.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for mood disorder and right eye disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine the correct amount of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits he is entitled to receive, as his use of education benefits under MGIB and TATU programs needs to be accurately accounted for.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied prior to September 7, 2010 due to not meeting the income requirements. From September 7, 2010 onwards, the claim was also denied as his countable income exceeded the applicable maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating and total disability based on individual unemployability have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the appeal process.