Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for a noncompensable rating for musculoskeletal chest pain and respiratory symptoms (claimed as coughing) has been granted, effective October 16, 2014. The existing 30 percent rating for respiratory symptoms is also made effective from that date.

The Board denied the appellant's request to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse due to a legal impediment and lack of valid marriage under Louisiana law, despite their long-term relationship.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the severity of the Veteran's service-connected shrapnel wound damage involving left muscle group XVII and muscle group XX. The effective date for the award of service connection for shrapnel wound damage involving left muscle group XX is also to be reconsidered.

The Board has granted a special apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits to the appellant, on behalf of herself and their children T.B. and K.B., in the amount of the dependency allowance received for each of them.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's medications prescribed for his service-connected disabilities are being evaluated further.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as he does not have a current diagnosis of a right index finger disability and his reported symptoms do not cause functional impairment that affects earning capacity.

The Board denied the appellant's requests for an earlier effective date and increased apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits, finding that any increase would cause undue financial hardship to the Veteran.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the appellant does not qualify as his surviving spouse for DIC or survivor's pension purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip (leg) disability because there was no evidence linking her current condition to her military service. The new evidence submitted did not provide any information that would change this conclusion.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of any nerve disability associated with his service-connected right thumb disability, including whether it constitutes an extraschedular rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's total gross household income for 2016 and whether his gross distributions from insurance companies were from a cash surrender of life insurance policies. The VA needs to gather this information and clarify these points before making a decision.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a medical examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing duodenal ulcer was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's left hip strain has been granted an initial 20 percent rating since September 28, 2016.,The Veteran's right hip strain has been granted an initial 20 percent rating since September 28, 2016.

Your appeal for medical expenses reimbursement has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for polymenorrhea, finding no evidence of a relationship between her current condition and her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right leg and foot disabilities, including amputation of the right great toe, were not caused or aggravated by VA negligence in November 2010. The medical opinions provided are against the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore his Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of clear and convincing evidence showing he had substantially gainful employment for at least twelve consecutive months.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed foot disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for McArdle disease was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5025 (fibromyalgia).