Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has found the VA medical opinion inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining additional treatment records and an addendum opinion from a clinician regarding the Veteran's skin disability. The issues are related to service connection for a skin disability, specifically porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), and in-service exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left hamstring strain, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of the currently assigned noncompensable ratings.

The Veteran's cause of death was chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The Board has found that remand is necessary due to the need for further verification regarding exposure to hazardous materials during service and a new VA medical opinion on the relationship between such exposures and CLL.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, finding no evidence linking the condition to service or service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to uncertainty regarding whether the Veteran suffered from ischemic heart disease during his lifetime and if his current heart disability is related to service, including a notation in service referencing an electrocardiogram that demonstrated a complete right bundle branch block.

The Board granted service connection for a neurological disorder causing fecal and urinary incontinence, finding it more likely than not due to undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness. The TDIU issue was dismissed.

The Veteran's HIV is not related to service, specifically his Reserve duty. The Board denied service connection as the condition was diagnosed during INACDUTRA and not in line of duty.

The Board denied payment or reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred on April 24, 2017, at Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital (BARH) because the services were not rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current acute nosebleed disability began in service and continues to reoccur since service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right middle finger disability was caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing treatment. As a result, the Veteran is entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA emergency medical care provided to him at St. Luke's Hospital from November 22, 2017, to November 25, 2017, was denied because the claim was not filed within the required 90-day period after discharge.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to new evidence added since the last decision. The Veteran's hearing request is unclear, and he did not respond to requests for clarification.

The Board denied service connection for pharyngitis and right hip pain, finding no current disability during the pendency of the claim period. The Veteran's statements were deemed not credible.

The Board denied service connection for low hemoglobin requiring blood transfusions (anemia) and remanded the issue of service connection for a stroke, diagnosed as cerebral arteriosclerosis.

The Veteran's gallstones were not shown to be related to service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeal regarding the entitlement to a higher retroactive amount of survivors' pension benefits. The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of a fracture of the right 4th metacarpal and SMC based on loss of use of the right hand are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and information regarding service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran currently has a diagnosed skin disability related to his service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran testified that he had a skin disability during service, but VA records do not show any current diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining records from SSA and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.