Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim for service connection for a jaw disability can be adjudicated. The claim will be remanded to determine if the Veteran's jaw pain reached the level of a functional impairment affecting his earning capacity and whether it was etiologically related to his period of active service or caused by his service-connected depression, hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shin disorders have been reopened. His claim for an increased rating of PTSD has been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's left little finger disability has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and he testified to additional symptoms affecting other fingers and a tremor. The case is remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of the disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits in FY 2015 and FY 2014 due to concurrent receipt of drill pay, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left elbow limitation of flexion were denied as the evidence did not show that his condition met or approximated the criteria for higher ratings at any point.

The Board finds that additional development is required to clarify the appellant's income and medical expenses, as her financial situation has changed since her initial application. The appeal for death pension benefits will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's colon cancer, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The decision also notes that if a favorable decision was made on the pending appeal for service connection for colon cancer, the issue regarding cause of death will be re-evaluated.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and needs further medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's 2001 stroke and his in-service heart condition.

The Board denied a compensable rating for impotence associated with residuals of a radical prostatectomy, finding that the Veteran did not have deformity of the penis and was already receiving compensation for erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome has been rated at 10 percent since September 21, 2003 for limitation of flexion and a 10 percent rating as of June 13, 2017 for limitation of extension. The Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted.

The Veteran's request to reopen her finally denied claim for service connection of a right foot disability was granted. The Board also found that she had a bilateral foot condition and granted service connection for both the left and right feet.

The Board found compelling circumstances warranted the Appellant's prolonged absence without official leave (AWOL) and granted his discharge under other than honorable conditions, thus removing the bar to VA benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right fifth finger fracture residuals, including any additional disabilities affecting his hand and fingers.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination by a neurologist to assess his residuals of post-stroke and mild neurocognitive disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 5, 2017, for adding [REDACTED] as a dependent spouse. The decision also referred the issue of the validity of the overpayment debt in the amount of $4,715.81 to the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the cases due to receipt of additional VA examination and treatment records. The Veteran must waive review of these documents within 45 days.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral eye condition and his active service, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's laceration of the flexor profundus of the fourth finger of the left hand is granted as service-connected. The fracture of the fourth finger of the left hand warrants a compensable rating, but not in excess of 20 percent for reflex sympathetic dystrophy and traumatic arthritis of the right hand.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral elbow disabilities, including lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis. The conditions are found to have onset during service with continuity of symptoms.