Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a hernia is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion and the provision of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for muscle damage, left lower leg, residuals of crush injury, muscle groups XI and XII is denied. The RO assigned a 30 percent rating effective August 25, 2010.

The Board denied the appeal as the appellant did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the effective date for DIC and DEA benefits granted in February 2016. The decision is final.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for conjunctivitis, finding no support in the STRs or outpatient records for the Veteran's claimed history of recurrent conjunctivitis during active service.,The Board also denied service connection for a left leg disability, including as due to CAD. The examiner found no currently diagnosed left leg circulatory disorder and opined that any such condition was not caused by the Veteran's service-connected CAD.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the Board found that neither Agent Orange exposure nor diabetes mellitus contributed substantially or materially to cause his death. Therefore, DIC benefits were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected femoral stress fractures have not been found to warrant a higher disability rating, as the current functional limitations do not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Veteran's left ring and little finger disabilities are rated at 10 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for hallux valgus with bunionectomy and hammertoe of the left foot was denied as his symptoms are already addressed by the current 10% schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tardive dyskinesia and tardive dystonia, both claimed as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Veteran's private provider and VA examiner have provided conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied because Philippine veterans who served in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerilla service, are not eligible for VA non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's right hand ring finger fracture disability is denied an initial compensable rating.,Service connection for a dental disability for treatment purposes is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding his skin condition and its onset during service. An additional examination is needed to provide a clear opinion on whether the current skin disability is related to active service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete examination report and requests for clarification on the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a pulmonary disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the condition and his military service. The Board noted that the Veteran did not have any in-service complaints or findings related to a lung issue, and that he was diagnosed with pulmonary granulomas 13 years after separation from service.

The Board has denied service connection for compensation purposes for a dental condition including removal of tooth number nine, but granted treatment purposes only for missing tooth #9 with bridging.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of a right rib injury is granted. The TDIU claim is also considered, but the decision on this issue is deferred until further notice.

The Veteran's death was not related to service-connected disability and he did not have a claim or appeal for benefits pending at the time of his death, leading to denial of DIC and accrued benefits.

The Board denied service connection for a vision disability and gout, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support an in-service onset or relationship to military service.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals, SFW of the chest, pleural cavity injuries with retained foreign bodies, p.o. hemopneumothorax is denied as his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher than 20 percent evaluation.