Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's loss of teeth claim. The Veteran is seeking service connection for loss of teeth as related to facial tumors that were removed, which could have led to decay of teeth, bone loss, and loss of teeth.

The Board has denied service connection for allergies and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hand disability, including limitation of use.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for anterior cortical cataract, right eye as it is not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pituitary adenoma, right facial disorder, and Sjogren's syndrome due to additional evidence submitted after the issuance of the June 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate independent medical opinion and requests for updated VA treatment records.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no further action can be taken.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty with history of degenerative joint disease, is rated at 30 percent prior to April 14, 2021 and at 60 percent thereafter. The current ratings are not higher due to the lack of intermediate degrees of residual weakness or limitation of motion.

The Veteran passed away during the appeal process, and as a result, the Board has no jurisdiction to make a decision on his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service and rejecting any presumptive service connection based on continuity of symptomatology or chronicity in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right elbow disorder, finding that his pre-existing condition did not increase in severity during service beyond its natural progression.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current eye disorder is related to service, specifically exposure to weapons firing and dust during deployment to Diego Garcia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the decedent's military service, and further development is required.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Raynaud's Syndrome, which is a direct result of his military service.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of an overpayment of VA benefits was denied because the appeal was not filed within the 180-day period following notification.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 11, 2018 for service connection for essential tremors based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the May 2019 rating decision is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date prior to December 17, 2020 for service connection for bilateral paralysis of the upper extremities is denied.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Hackley Hospital on July 9, 2017, and July 10, 2017, was denied because the treatment did not meet the criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1725 due to a lack of timely submission within 90 days after the date of service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for carotid sinus hypersensitivity with syncope as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected cervical spinal compression fracture with IVDS, and for pacemaker implantation as secondary to his carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lung disorder.