Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of service is not a bar to VA benefits, allowing for consideration of his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether Scheuermann’s disease was aggravated during service or due to natural progress is inadequate. Therefore, the case is being remanded for an additional addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities are rated at the minimum 10 percent level due to pain, but do not meet criteria for higher ratings as there is no evidence of instability or other conditions that would warrant separate ratings.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, finding no evidence of its onset during or immediately after service and no causal link to a service-connected condition. The Veteran's claim was also not supported by secondary service connection due to his service-connected T-cell lymphoma.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for poor circulation of the bilateral legs, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records that could potentially affect the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance. The VA will seek these records from relevant providers.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left eye disability, which is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The case requires additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Veteran's left leg varicose veins were rated at 40 percent prior to January 29, 2018. The rating was reduced from 40 percent to 10 percent effective January 29, 2018. The Board restored the 40 percent disability rating for the period after January 29, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain and associate certain private treatment records, specifically those related to physical therapy with Veronica Whitman. The Veteran's lower back injury claim will be returned for further action.

The Veteran is challenging the validity and timeliness of an overpayment claim. The case must be remanded to address these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a mouth wound to include a cracked tooth, finding no current compensable dental disability as defined under VA law.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for fatigue and compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional left shoulder disability due to VA examination on April 16, 2015 is remanded due to inadequate previous opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected ringworm disability is rated at a 10 percent rating, effective from May 2, 2002. The Board granted this rating as the evidence showed that less than 5% of his entire body was affected by the condition.

The Board granted an extraschedular rating of 10 percent for right foot DJD with os perineum syndrome, effective February 1, 2017.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including neck and upper back pain, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for symptomatic sinus node dysfunction and status pacemaker implantation, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for visual impairment, other than conversion disorder, finding that there is no competent and probative medical opinion to link her current disability to service.

The Veteran withdrew all pending claims and appeals, including the appeal in this case. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracic spine was denied as her symptoms did not warrant a higher than 10 percent evaluation.