Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and military service or VA treatment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's left hip disability, including any vascular conditions resulting in left hip symptoms. The VA needs to obtain clarification and adequate opinions on whether the current vascular disabilities preexisted service or are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives and for obtaining private treatment records. Additionally, an opinion is needed regarding the impact of the Veteran's participation in toxic exposure risk activities on his liver disabilities.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his complications following a right hydrocelectomy were caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The Veteran's condition was not due to an unforeseeable event and there is no indication of failure to obtain informed consent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for further development of the claims file, including obtaining medical records from the Department of Transportation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for residuals of a right foot fracture is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is remanded due to inextricably intertwined issues regarding CUE in a 1981 rating decision.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract, finding that the Veteran did not submit a claim to reopen until December 18, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dissociative identity disorder is a congenital defect and therefore not service-connected. The claim for chronic pain disorder, to include as secondary to TBI, is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood and personality disorder unspecified and alcohol use disorder uncomplicated was granted a rating of 70 percent as of February 25, 2013. Prior to this date, the disability had been rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of fracture to the left hand, limitation of motion of various fingers and surgical scar on the left hand have been granted. The Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent for each affected finger and no higher.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a compensable initial rating for his service-connected invasive bladder carcinoma, finding that the claim was granted based on presumptive exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's bladder cancer is rated as voiding dysfunction due to benign prostatic hypertrophy rather than the bladder carcinoma itself.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's completion date of his education program and the validity of the overpayment. The AOJ is instructed to request relevant documents from Elite Massage Academy.

The Board has granted the claims for service connection for GI bleed and anemia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lymphoma, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting this conclusion.

The Board denied service connection for meralgia paresthetica affecting both legs, finding no evidence of a disability during active duty and insufficient continuity of symptomatology to establish service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the left elbow, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to in-service injuries and exposure. The Veteran now receives a noncompensable evaluation for this disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the claimant during the appeal process.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hip and leg disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected fracture of coccyx with chronic coccydynia, finding that the evidence supports this relationship.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including olivopontocerebellar atrophy and its secondary effects. The issues are related to aggravation of preexisting conditions during military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hand arthritis and related injuries were denied. The Board found that the current ratings of 10 percent are appropriate, as there is no actual limitation of motion in any of the fingers.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability of the bilateral feet and hands due to new evidence showing an unestablished fact - that he currently has this condition.,The right eye disability claim was not reopened as there is no new or material evidence.