Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for back pain was denied in April 2008 due to lack of medical evidence showing a chronic disability during service. The claim is reopened as new and material evidence has been received since the April 2008 decision, including VA treatment records, private medical treatment records, and testimony from the Veteran's October 2021 Board hearing. However, the claim must be remanded for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not show material improvement in his service-connected conditions prior to August 30, 2021.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it before a decision was made.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for right navicular fracture status post repair, diagnosed as pes cavus and hammer toes, is denied prior to July 14, 2016. From July 14, 2016, an increased disability rating of 20 percent but no higher for the Veteran's right heel disability (pes planus) is granted. An initial disability rating of 10 percent for metatarsalgia is also granted from July 14, 2016.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for non-service-connected (NSC) pension benefits in excess of $6,716.00 for reimbursement of expenses for her father's last sickness and burial as he was not entitled to any additional NSC pension benefits at the time of his death.

The Veteran's mandible fracture is not shown to have moderate displacement, and therefore a compensable rating for the condition is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred during non-VA medical treatment at Good Smartian Medical Center, Corvallis Radiology, and Samaritan Urology on April 1 and April 9, 2014. The decision is based on prior authorization under 38 U.S.C. § 1703(a).

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including issuance of an SSOC regarding the scar residual rating. The Veteran's appeal includes claims for a compensable rating for varicocele and intratesticular cyst associated with left inguinal herniorrhaphy, as well as a higher rating for the surgical scar.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is dismissed because the appeal was not perfected.

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

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's right lower extremity PVD with swelling and ulcers was granted a 100 percent disability rating from March 28, 2018 through June 26, 2018.,The Veteran's left lower extremity PVD with swelling is not entitled to an initial disability rating higher than 40 percent.

The Board has decided that a 10 percent rating for right foot callus is granted from December 1, 2011. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for tonsillectomy status post recurrent tonsillitis and service connection for GERD and dysphagia as secondary to the service-connected tonsillectomy are both remanded.

The Veteran's discharge was not due to a service-connected disability, and the RO may have misapplied the regulations. The matter is being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for AL amyloidosis and a liver disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth due to trauma for VA compensation purposes, finding that there was no evidence of loss of substance of body of maxilla or mandible resulting from trauma.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to incomplete follow-up of a requested VA heart examination.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen the claim for service connection for a skin rash disorder has been dismissed. The Board has also remanded cases involving bilateral feet issues, lung disability, and colon cancer with residual symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's dental issues are due to in-service trauma and bone loss, as well as whether he qualifies for compensation.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's TMJ disability, including during flare-ups.