Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for a disability manifested by earaches, finding that the osteomas resulting in ear pain are likely due to the use of hearing aids to treat his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for stroke, left-side paralysis, and memory loss due to insufficient development. The Veteran's assertions are that these conditions are related to his in-service drug abuse.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Dercum’s Disease is being remanded and referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration due to the need for a new examination by a dermatologist.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to unresolved issues regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and the relationship between his cancers and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for restrictive lung disease and entitlement to TDIU due to outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA Form 21-4142s for Dr. A.S. at Knoxville Heart Group, North Knoxville Medical Center, and Summit Medical Group.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits as he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements due to lack of qualifying wartime service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disorder, including strabismus and amblyopia. The decision concluded that there is clear and unmistakable evidence showing that the Veteran had pre-existing left eye amblyopia which was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for atrial fibrillation and remanded the issue of an increased rating for residuals of status post stroke.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, finding no evidence of a nexus between his service or any service-connected conditions and his condition.

The Board is remanding the case due to incomplete mental health treatment records and a need for a VA medical opinion regarding the appellant's insanity during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of active pay and VA compensation benefits, finding that it would not be against equity and good conscience to require the appellant to repay the debt.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's residuals of pneumonia.

The Veteran's right elbow disability is rated at 10 percent for painful forearm supination, effective February 27, 2018. The rating remains at 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining private medical records and conducting a VA examination. The issues of service connection for DVT and increased ratings for right knee strain and lumbosacral strain are all being remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right foot bone spur is related to his back disability and remands the case for further development.

The Board has denied entitlement to a compensable evaluation for the service-connected right-hand laceration and increased evaluations in excess of 10 percent for painful motion of the right index finger, long finger, thumb, ring finger, and little finger.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including amputation of the great toe and surgery on the second toe, is rated at 30 percent. The decision does not address service connection theory or exposure basis.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits for a dependent spouse is waived due to no fault on his part and undue hardship caused by the delay in removing her as a dependent.

The Veteran's death during the appeal process means that the Board has no jurisdiction to decide their claim, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's skin condition. The claim will be reconsidered with a dermatologist’s evaluation.