Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected left foot disability has prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is unemployable due to his service-connected left foot disability. Therefore, entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU rating is granted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to Cholangiocarcinoma and denied Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's cancer to his military service.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder is at least as likely as not related to his active service in Iraq, leading the Board to grant service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disorders, specifically atrial fibrillation and supraventricular arrhythmia. The examiner is requested to provide a new opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service or caused by CAD.

The Veteran's loss of teeth is not compensable due to the availability of a suitable prosthesis.,The Veteran's mandible fracture residuals are granted with a rating of 20 percent, reflecting severe pain and malunion affecting masticatory function.,The Veteran's facial fractures residuals are granted with a rating of 30 percent for severe incomplete paralysis of the trigeminal nerve.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for uterine fibroid tumors is denied. A separate noncompensable rating for female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) effective August 18, 2020 is granted.

The Board denied service connection for right hip disorder and left hip disorder, finding no evidence of a causal relationship between the current conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to report for a hearing and his absence without good cause. The appeal is related to an extension of a temporary total disability rating based on convalescent purposes following surgery for service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right epididymitis is remanded due to the lack of updated treatment records and an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for residuals of left knee injury is denied as the evidence does not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, which would warrant an increased rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a 100% combined rating since March 28, 2017. As such, there are no remaining questions of law or fact to be decided regarding TDIU during this period and the issue is therefore dismissed.

The Veteran's service aboard the U.S.S. William H. Standley is considered to be within Vietnam waters, and he has been granted presumptive service connection for transient ischemic attacks due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. However, further development is needed as the Veteran has not been examined for his current symptoms of transient ischemic attacks or his bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty in attributing symptoms of fainting spells and vasovagal episodes of syncope to the service-connected condition. The Veteran's June 2016 examiner diagnosed psychomotor epilepsy, but his November 2019 examination focused on paralysis of the tenth cranial nerve.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as Crohn's colitis) is granted. Service connection for the gastrointestinal disability is also granted, with the condition being secondary to PTSD. The Board has found that there are new and material evidence supporting this claim. However, both issues of rating PTSD and determining TDIU remain pending due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for a new examination.

The Board has denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for right eye retinal detachment, finding that the Veteran's visual acuity in his left eye is not severe enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Grant Regional Health Center from January 15, 2018 to January 17, 2018 was denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and the Veteran chose to stay at GRHC.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current eye conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss caused any additional medically discernible functional impairment of his neurosyphilis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for disability of the right first toe and second toe, finding no evidence of amputation or partial amputation of these toes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete processing and review of the claim for payment of medical expenses. The AOJ must correct these errors by reviewing the appellant's claim, including by a Customer Service Specialist if appropriate.