Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from the April 2019 examiner to determine the severity of the Veteran's right eye disability and whether his metamorphopsia is a symptom separate from decreased contrast sensitivity.

The Veteran is granted a higher 20 percent rating for his degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the first MTP joint of the right foot, resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor. The condition causes 'moderately severe' impairment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current chronic otitis externa is proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II. The decision also notes that additional private treatment records are needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the lower extremities swelling disorder is aggravated by service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection remains pending.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the previously denied claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805 for a child born with spina bifida, but has remanded both issues of entitlement to benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805 and 1815 due to outstanding records and the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's household income was excessive and whether the Appellant is eligible for survivor pension benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's stomach ulcers, finding that they are more likely than not aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any spine disability, whether it is related to service or proximately due to or the result of her service-connected left knee disability, and whether it is aggravated by her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's TMJ has not manifested in the required interincisal range of motion or vertical opening to warrant a higher rating. The Board denied an increased disability rating for his service-connected TMJ.

The Board denied service connection for multiple myeloma as it is not related to active duty or any period of ACDUTRA. The Veteran's claim was based on exposure to chemicals while maintaining tankers, but the evidence does not support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lymphedema, finding no evidence of its onset during active duty and insufficient medical evidence to establish aggravation.

The Veteran's right hip disability has not been rated compensably, and the Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine his current level of impairment.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 20 percent from March 6, 2018 to November 4, 2021. The Board found that the evidence was approximately equal regarding whether her knees were limited to 15 degrees of extension during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for liver disabilities other than hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or relationship to active service.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus of the left knee are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has denied service connection for a brain tumor and vision loss, both claimed as secondary to the brain tumor. The Veteran's brain tumor is not considered related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other in-service event, injury, or disease. His vision loss is attributed to his brain tumor excision during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence on whether the Veteran's tonsil cancer is related to herbicide agent exposure, specifically Agent Orange. The RO should request an addendum medical opinion discussing the relationship of the tonsil cancer to the respiratory system and whether it was related to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye pterygium is related to environmental exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The claim of service connection for segmental pulmonary fibrosis is granted, and the issue of SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for nerve damage to both legs, finding no current disability and that any such condition is not related to his service-connected disabilities.