Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed bilateral ear pain and its relationship to service. The Veteran will need a VA medical opinion to clarify these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a complete copy of the March 2017 VA OIG report regarding possible fraud involving the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits. The matter must be re-evaluated based on this information.

The Board denied the appeal because the Notice of Disagreement was not filed within one year of the rating decision denying service connection for the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for reimbursement of medical services provided at Portneuf Medical Center (PMC). The Board dismissed the case as there is no longer a case or controversy.

The Veteran's child, K.W., was born in 2010. The Veteran submitted a VA Form 21-686c Declaration of Status of Dependents adding K.W. as a dependent child on July 18, 2018. The effective date for additional dependency benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be reconsidered with these new documents.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a dental disability, including the loss of tooth number 18, is remanded due to an error in the June 2019 VA examination. The Board will provide another VA examination to determine if the current dental disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service trauma.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any current psychiatric disorder related to his service-connected PVD. The matter is also referred to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration of the Veteran's symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU). The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for status post broken little finger, right hand, with varus deformity of the MIP joint and arthritis with ankylosis of the right 4th and 5th phalange. The decision does not address service connection or any exposure basis.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability and an injury involving Muscle Group XV of the left lower extremity. The issue of service connection for a left foot disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability or disabilities, is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's insomnia disorder as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for an accounting of apportionment payments.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete adjudication of the validity of the overpayment debt and a need for further action regarding whether a waiver is warranted.

The Veteran's BPH is rated at a 40 percent disability rating since October 26, 2020. The appeal for higher ratings prior to that date was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and secondary service connection for adjustment disorder related to a service-connected left thigh disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination reports and a lack of adequate nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's exposure to high-intensity carbon arc lights without safety equipment during service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for essential thrombocytopenia, which he claims was caused by in-service exposure to hazardous chemicals and lighting.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer, his cause of death, is considered to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Board finds that the evidence is in balance and supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia was diagnosed during active service and has been granted service connection. The left inguinal hernia claim is remanded for additional development to determine if it is secondary to the service-connected right inguinal hernia.

The Veteran's stepchild, M.R., is not recognized as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18 because she did not meet the criteria of being a member of the Veteran's household or adopted before the age of 18.