Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Veteran's right hip limitation of extension is granted a 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period. The Veteran's right hip limitation of flexion is denied any higher than a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in assessing the severity of Crohn's disease and whether a surgery constitutes a serious complication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for nephrolithiasis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and either his active duty service or any service-connected disability. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected gunshot wound to the left leg was denied, but he received a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for paralysis of the external popliteal nerve.

The Board has granted service connection for right eye photophobia and residuals of left femur fracture, secondary to service-connected bilateral eye photophobia.,Both conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has granted the appellant's petition to reopen her claim for recognition as the Veteran’s surviving spouse, finding that she was separated from the Veteran due to his misconduct and remained married until his death. The Board also found that her remarriage after October 1, 1998, ended through her spouse's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any eye disabilities, other than keratoconjunctivitis sicca with pterygium. The Veteran's service-connected condition is not at issue in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a blood disorder, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The case must be returned to Compensation Service for an opinion and additional VA medical records should be obtained.

The Veteran's skin conditions (idiopathic acquired leukoderma, seborrheic keratosis, and actinic keratosis) were not found to be related to his service or exposure to herbicide agents. The Board denied service connection for these conditions as the evidence did not support a direct relationship.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions and a need for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to its interdependence with another issue, a blood disorder claim. The decision on the TDIU is pending until the outcome of the blood disorder claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left eye ulcer is related to service and remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's left foot talipes varus is rated at 30 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development due to severe symptomatology.

The Veteran's shortness of breath is due to coronary artery disease and COVID-19 lung changes, which are not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a disability manifesting in shortness of breath has been denied.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection of left and right hand pain as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims.

The Veteran's left and right upper extremity cerebellar tremors are rated at 60% and 70%, respectively, prior to December 22, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurobehavioral disability, to include as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp LeJeune. The Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed neurobehavioral disability and there was no evidence of a nexus between his service and this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for a new examination. The propriety of the reduction in the rating for obstructive airway disease is also under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA opinion regarding the Veteran's essential tremors and its relation to service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's polio/post-polio syndrome was not caused or aggravated by his service or any other condition, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.