Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for both right and left hand disabilities, finding no medical evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Veteran's right eye pterygium has been granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's left thigh abductor muscle group sprain is denied any increase in disability rating beyond the current 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's vocational goal of attending law school and becoming an attorney is reasonably feasible. The VRC must provide a detailed assessment of how his service-connected disabilities prevent him from achieving this goal or if they are expected to worsen within the period needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for TDIU for the period prior to March 24, 2011 due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's employment history.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus is granted a 30 percent rating effective from January 27, 2022. The claim for increased ratings remains pending and will be remanded to consider if higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sutter Memorial Hospital is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a determination regarding the significance of a document titled 'Declaration' and whether VA facilities were available to provide necessary treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection and aggravation of gouty arthritis of the fingers and hands, which is related to military service.

The Veteran's blood clots in the lungs, right leg, and left leg are not considered to be secondary to his service-connected status post obstruction, large bowel, surgically corrected by resection sigmoid volvulus with acquired megacolon.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's residuals of multiple strokes, including as due to herbicide exposure, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence related to his thoracic strain and seborrheic keratosis, as well as outstanding VA treatment records. Additional examinations may be needed.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no final decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if service connection is warranted for a lumbar spine disability and a left shoulder disability.

The overpayment of VA pension benefits in the amount of $61,158 was validly created and the appeal for waiver of recovery is denied.

The Veteran is seeking a waiver of an overpayment in the amount of $567.00, and he contests the validity of this debt due to administrative error by VA.

The Board has ordered a new VA medical opinion to determine the status and nature of the Veteran's claimed alcohol use disorder, including whether it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's lung condition, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is being remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine if it is related to service in the Persian Gulf theatre and whether IPF can be considered a medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hand tremors and left hand tremors, as these conditions are not related to military service or herbicide exposure. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's bilateral hand tremors were incurred in service or caused by any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the procedural steps necessary to ensure the procedural and due process rights of the parties have not been completed. The case is remanded for further development, including notifying the appellant of requirements for a minor child to continue receiving an apportionment after turning 18 years old post high school, obtaining documentation from the educational institution regarding A.V.'s pursuit of education, requesting income and expense information from both parties, and readjudicating the issue based on all evidence of record.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment was denied because it was not filed within the 180-day period following notification.

The Veteran's death was caused by ischemic heart disease, which is presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. Therefore, the Veteran's cause of death qualifies for DIC benefits.