Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim is not complete due to missing documents and needs further clarification on whether his business was economically viable in 2014. The AOJ must provide a supplemental statement of the case with this information.

The Veteran's skin disability, diagnosed as rash, dermatitis, and xerosis, is found to have begun during service and has been continuous since then. The Board granted service connection for the skin disability.

The Board has remanded the claim of TDIU due to a lack of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) discussing this issue after assigning a rating for insomnia. The SSOC should be issued.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for collagenous colitis, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with an addendum opinion from a gastroenterologist.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to a separate, compensable disability rating for right eye visual impairment associated with type II diabetes mellitus; service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus; and service connection for hypertension as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's gout of the right hand was granted a 40 percent evaluation prior to March 29, 2018. From that date onwards, his evaluations for individual fingers were denied.

The Board granted a 30 percent rating for the residuals of a left foot bunionectomy, including flat foot, hammer toes, and hallux valgus, effective from August 2017.

The veteran, L. C., served in the Confederate Army until his death as a prisoner of war. He is buried in a mass grave with a private memorial marker and does not meet the criteria to be considered a veteran for purposes of receiving a government-furnished memorial headstone or marker.

The Board has determined that the appellant may have used more than 48 months of education benefits under Chapters 30 and 31 prior to October 1, 2013. The case is being remanded for a detailed accounting/audit of how the amount of education benefits was calculated.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and will issue a Statement of the Case regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for injury of the right toes.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's right ear hearing disability. The Veteran is entitled to a new examination and opinion to determine if his diagnosed right ear hearing loss is related to service, including combat experiences in Iraq, or due to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the VA healthcare system's change in the Veteran's means test eligibility category from copay exempt to prescription copay for income year 2016 was not proper and has ordered further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service personnel records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding asbestos exposure. The Veteran's respiratory disorder may be related to service, including his military occupation as an engineman.

The Board denied service connection for Alzheimer's disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and there is no evidence of a causal relationship to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's overpayment was improperly created due to his incarceration, but remands for further development and consideration. The validity of the amount of the overpayment and a waiver claim are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to a final decision on the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and 38 C.F.R. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from VA treatment of his left and right great toenails in April and May of 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report regarding the Veteran's diagnosis of hypertensive vascular disease.

The Veteran's left and right hand tremors are rated at 60 percent and 70 percent, respectively, effective April 30, 2021. The claims for prior periods remain in appellate status due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left tibia disability due to inadequate examination and reasoning regarding secondary service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an extension of the delimiting date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits beyond April 1, 2017. The evidence did not show that her physical or mental disability prevented her from initiating or completing her chosen program of education within the applicable period.