Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating prior to March 22, 2018 and a higher rating effective March 22, 2018 are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's colon cancer and his service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner is asked to provide a response on whether the condition is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right scapula injury was denied because the evidence did not establish a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's right hand disabilities, including painful motion of the thumb, index finger, long finger, and ring finger, are currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that there is no evidence to support higher evaluations for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, service connection for left leg fluid buildup, and service connection for left foot heel calluses are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left hand disorder and inflammatory arthritis (to include Reiter's Syndrome), as well as his claim for TDIU prior to February 26, 2008. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for back pain. The Veteran's testimony and STRs indicate a history of back strain and injury during service, but no current diagnosis or link to service is established.

The Veteran's emergency treatment for shingles at Bayonet Point Regional Medical Center on November 23, 2014 was approved as it met the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating satisfaction with the current disability ratings and requesting to have his appeal dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hip condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current right hip strain to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and missing records. The issues include skin disability, gunshot wound residuals, testicle disability, and back/spinal cord disability.

The Veteran's death certificate lists his marital status as 'divorced' at the time of his death, and there is no evidence that he and the appellant remarried. The Board finds that the appellant had no valid marriage to the Veteran at the time of his death, thus denying her claim for recognition as a surviving spouse.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Bell's palsy, including whether it is related to his service-connected headaches and chronic fatigue syndrome or any medication/vaccination administered in service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination opinions are insufficient to decide the claims and requires additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran experienced additional disability caused by VA treatment in 2012, if any such additional disability was proximately caused or reasonably foreseeable, and if it was aggravated due to failure on the part of VA to timely diagnose and/or treat.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to incomplete informed consent forms and the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his additional disability was caused by VA carelessness, negligence or similar instance of fault.

The Board has decided that the change in the Veteran's Means Test eligibility category from copay exempt to copay required for income year 2016 was proper and is remanding the case due to missing documents.

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

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a missed VA examination for skin disorder. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's skin disability, specifically dermatophytosis, has been granted a higher initial rating of 30 percent. The condition requires systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for at least 6 weeks but not constantly.