Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions in the previous decision regarding direct and secondary service connection for right hip strain. The Veteran's right hip strain is being reviewed again with a new opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a fracture of the right sternoclavicular joint, finding that the condition was not aggravated during active duty and represented the natural progression of his preexisting injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye/vision disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, and denied his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension.

The Veteran was granted service connection for ALS, as the diagnosis of ALS is established and he has a period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) that qualifies him as a veteran. The claimant's disability arose during his ACDUTRA service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for histoplasmosis, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosis during service and insufficient evidence to establish a relationship between his current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral eye disabilities are related to his in-service exposure and strain.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, finding that the Veteran's condition was not related to his active service or exposure to herbicide agents. The evidence did not show a chronic back disability during service and no compensable degree of arthritis within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood is currently rated at 50 percent, effective October 27, 2020. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date and thereafter remains denied.

The Veteran's adult daughter is seeking recognition as a child due to permanent incapacity or self-support prior to reaching age 18. The appeal is remanded for further evidence regarding her marital history and whether she was permanently incapable of self-support before the age of 18.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board dismissed the appeal as it is not in dispute.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to surviving spouse status for purposes of claiming Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) as the Appellant requested a withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot gout, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to gout and no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's interstitial lung disease is related to his in-service exposure to sulfuric acid, and service connection for this disability is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the skin disability claim, so it is dismissed.

The Veteran's benefits were previously partially granted for the period between April 10, 2010 and September 27, 2010. The Board denied the claim of entitlement to an apportionment of the Veteran’s VA disability compensation benefits for the period following September 27, 2010.

The Board denied an increased apportionment of the Veteran's VA pension benefits, finding that it would cause undue financial hardship for the Veteran.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's scrotal area epidermal inclusion cyst, finding that the condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the overpayment of $2,184.00 was properly created due to an error in calculating benefits for a dependent child from April 2014 through May 2015, and denied the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's Sweet’s syndrome and his eye symptoms. The claim is now back before the Board for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as his disability does not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU and there is no evidence of an extraschedular TDIU.