Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board denied the veteran's claims for nonservice-connected survivor's pension benefits and special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance (A&A) due to insufficient evidence of unreimbursed medical expenses, and because the Appellant did not meet the criteria for needing regular A&A.

The Veteran's service-connected head-neck tremors and adjustment disorder have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since September 8, 2009. The Board has granted an effective date of September 8, 2009 for the TDIU.

The Board has found that the VA examination in April 2022 was inadequate and did not substantially comply with the January 2022 remand instructions. The Veteran's eye disability, other than his service-connected bilateral cataract to include dry eye syndrome and vitreous degeneration, needs further evaluation by a qualified clinician.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left hand conditions, finding that there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete information in the May 1980 VA examination, requiring a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case as they are no longer alive.

The Veteran disagrees with the number of days her VA compensation benefits were reduced due to concurrent receipt of military drill pay for fiscal years 2010 and 2014. The Board finds that additional development is needed, including a detailed audit of the number of days she received military drill pay in those years.

The Veteran's residuals of a left femur fracture are manifested by an inability to walk and/or sustain weight on the left hip, requiring constant use of a wheelchair. The Board has granted an 80 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a heat injury with residuals of chronic elevated body temperature/increased body temperature due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. A new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic ear condition has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to need for additional development regarding his periods of active duty and Reserve service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, manifested as undiagnosed illness, are granted service connection. Additionally, the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to left foot disability caused by a VA surgery is remanded as the Board finds that an opinion is required regarding the nature and extent of his foot numbness, whether it was proximately caused by carelessness or negligence on the part of VA, and if any additional disability was reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water during service caused his left tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to adjudicate the merits of the case.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's neck disorder and left arm disorder, as well as whether these conditions are related to his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The issues have been remanded for further action.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for left lower extremity disability was granted, and a rating of 10% was assigned effective September 12, 2012. The rating was increased to 60% effective June 20, 2018.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition. The TDIU issue is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the rating claim.

The claims for increased ratings of the Veteran's right elbow and forearm disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination in the May 2022 VA examination. The TDIU claim is also being deferred as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for bottom right tooth extraction and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder due to inadequate medical opinions.