Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's service-connected traumatic degenerative joint disease of his left ring and long fingers due to additional development needed, including obtaining relevant private treatment records and clarifying whether there is a separate left hand disability.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's left wrist disability, finding that his symptoms more closely approximate unfavorable ankylosis with ulnar deviation.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for left and right thumb disabilities, including arthritis, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The appeal will be considered on the merits after the examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding whether a $25,419.13 debt was validly created due to an overpayment of VA compensation benefits paid while the Veteran was on active duty from February 2005 to April 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning and lack of substantial compliance with a previous Joint Motion for Remand (JMR). The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the throat is being reviewed again by an oncologist or otolaryngologist to determine if it is related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the cases of nerve damage and neck condition for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting another VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for menometrorrhagia, claimed as a gynecological condition secondary to PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities is granted. The issue of increased rating for headaches remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's thoracic spine condition and leg length discrepancy. The leg length and hip discrepancy are found to be a congenital defect, not related to service or aggravated by any injury during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's urinary disability, including incontinence and frequency, is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee condition and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's surviving spouse requested to withdraw the appeal for service connection for cause of death, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a dental disorder is denied as there is no current qualifying disability due to loss of substance of the body or maxilla or mandible from trauma, and his lay statements are not competent to offer an opinion regarding etiology.

The Board has decided that further development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's leg cramps, which were noted as early as 2007. The clinician will need to address whether the leg cramps are a symptom of Parkinson's disease or an independent condition, and if they are proximately caused by any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to increased ratings for right and left lower extremity lymphedema, as well as the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits or Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death as there was no evidence showing herbicide exposure in service and the condition did not manifest until after separation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension limit for a survivor with no dependents. The appeal is remanded to allow the appellant to provide updated information regarding any expenses that may offset her countable income, which could affect her eligibility for death pension benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to a lack of medical opinion regarding the necessity of the requested accommodations. The Veteran is given until February 28, 2023 to submit additional evidence.

The Board denied service connection for right-hip disorder and left-hand disorder as there was no evidence of current disabilities during or after active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left leg venous insufficiency, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service and was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's prostate disability is denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including medications used to treat the same. The direct service connection claim is remanded for further development.