Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has granted an effective date of August 3, 2015 for the grant of service connection for left and right arm/hand cold injury residuals, claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran possesses mental capacity to handle his own financial affairs, including disbursement of VA funds. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran possesses mental capacity to handle his own financial affairs, including disbursement of VA funds. The appeal is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for payment of ambulance services on June 23, 2019 is remanded due to a lack of documentation regarding whether VHA rendered a determination on entitlement to payment under 38 U.S.C. § 1725.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding reimbursement of medical expenses as the appellant requested a withdrawal.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood was rated under the General Rating Formula for Psychiatric Disabilities. The Board denied entitlement to initial compensable rating prior to August 13, 2021 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical review and opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for decreased sense of smell. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the condition can be attributed to known clinical diagnoses, or if it constitutes an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. They are also asked to address whether the condition was incurred in or aggravated during service and its relation to any service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a gastrointestinal disorder, initially claimed as irritable colon syndrome, due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye damage is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's skin disorder is related to his service, including conceded herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's anal fissure, finding that there was no evidence of hemorrhoids or anemia warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's oral cancer is not service connected as it was not present during his active duty and there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's left elbow injury with tendonitis, involving the epicondyle, is currently rated at 10 percent disabling for limitation of flexion. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they continue to approximate the criteria for a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for colon cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service or any other relevant factors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, including diastolic heart failure and atrial fibrillation, as secondary to exposure to herbicides. The VA examiner found no evidence that the Veteran's heart disabilities were caused by his presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits was denied because he had already used Chapter 30 (Montgomery GI Bill) benefits during his active duty, which prevented him from receiving Chapter 33 benefits. The Board found that the law barred duplication of eligibility based on a single period of service.

The Board found compelling circumstances warranted the Veteran's prolonged absence without official leave (AWOL), which formed the basis for his administrative discharge under other than honorable conditions. As a result, the character of the Veteran's discharge is not considered to be a statutory or regulatory bar to VA benefits.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain verification of the Veteran's service status in the Army National Guard from October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Specifically, a new VA examination is required to address the claim for service connection for pain in the long bones.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran, finding that she was not married to him at the time of his death and thus does not meet eligibility requirements.