Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for dry eye syndrome is being remanded due to the need for further VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board found the overpayment of compensation benefits valid and denied a waiver due to the Veteran's fault in not promptly notifying VA of her divorce.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic pancreatitis and internal varices, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and his service-connected hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Veteran's gastritis, which was aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease, is now rated at a 10 percent disability level.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a microvascular disorder of the brain is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's skin condition, specifically cysts and lipomata. The RO is directed to attempt to obtain private treatment records and provide a new VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's daughter, S.G., received an increased apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits starting from April 1, 2011. The effective date was granted based on when the appellant submitted her claim for an increase in the apportionment.

The Board has remanded the case due to unresolved issues regarding the validity of a debt and entitlement to waiver of recovery of an overpayment of educational assistance benefits under the Transfer of Entitlement provisions of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, in the originally calculated amount of $67,527.76.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA opinion and needs further development.

The Board found that the overpayment of Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits was not properly created and granted the Veteran's claim, returning any previously withheld funds.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits as he did not have qualifying wartime service, and thus does not meet the basic eligibility requirements.

The Veteran's income exceeded the VA National Means Test threshold for a veteran with one dependent, and he is therefore required to pay copayments in the VA healthcare system for income year 2010. The Board denied his claim as there was no persuasive evidence that he should have been exempt from paying copays.

The Veteran's claim for a total evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was dismissed because he did not provide the required information in the VA Form 21-8940 form.

The Veteran's skin disability, characterized as hypertrophic actinic keratosis, superficially invasive well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and compound dysplastic nevus with severe atypia, is granted. A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to December 10, 2020 is denied. A 40 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss from December 10, 2020 through July 20, 2021 is granted. A rating in excess of 40 percent for bilateral hearing loss from July 21, 2021 is denied. An initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD to include anxiety and depression, effective November 3, 2016, is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic bilateral otitis externa has been granted a 10 percent disability rating, effective March 15, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The right elbow injury with traumatic arthritis has not met the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 30, 2019.

The Board is remanding the case to determine when the appellant applied for SSA survivor benefits, as previous attempts have not been successful.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 13, 2017, for the award of service connection for anal/perianal fistula is denied. The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for anal/perianal fistula is also denied.

The Board has decided that the VA compensation benefits related to FY 2015 military drill days were improperly calculated and needs further investigation.

The Veteran's request for a change in his Individualized Written Rehabilitation Plan (IWRP) and additional vocational rehabilitation training benefits is being remanded due to missing records. The AOJ needs to obtain the outstanding CWINRS notes or screenshots of these notes, provide them to the Veteran and his representative via hard copy, and explain if this cannot be accomplished.