Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claims for perineal laceration, pulmonary embolism, renal venous rupture, seborrheic keratosis, bilateral benign breast nodules, and voiding dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to July 2015 and service personnel records for Camp Dunn. The Veteran's lung disability is being reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for a skin condition and remanded the issues of service connection for an eye condition and dental condition, both secondary to COPD.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her right hip disability and service connection for fibromyalgia is denied. The case is remanded to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her diagnosed fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected right eye cataract, status-post retinal detachment; entitlement to a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior to October 10, 2019; and entitlement to Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) prior to October 10, 2019 for further action.

The Board denied the appeal regarding the validity of a $7,766.25 overpayment due to retroactive reduction in compensation benefits for incarceration.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right foot condition is related to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for POTS was reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable, but then restored to 10 percent. The appeal regarding the reduction is dismissed as there are no longer any issues in controversy. The case is remanded due to inconsistencies in METs levels and cardiac findings.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if there is any functional impairment related to the Veteran's left upper extremity disability, and whether it is at least as likely as not that this condition was incurred in or otherwise related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a hiatal hernia, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation beyond its natural progression during his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to inconsistencies in the examination reports regarding meniscal conditions, instability, and other symptoms. The issues of TDIU are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal for eligibility for specially adapted housing and a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to procedural issues. The Board has issued an SOC but the Veteran did not file a substantive appeal or opt-in to the Modernized system as required.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for residuals of SFW of the right side of the abdomen and a TDIU due to missing service treatment records, particularly those from the abdominal exploratory laparotomy procedure. The AOJ is instructed to request these records and any additional relevant medical records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient answers to specific questions posed by a previous remand, and additional medical consideration is needed.

The Veteran's unauthorized non-VA medical expenses for emergency treatment of heat stroke and dehydration are granted.

The Veteran's disability ratings for bilateral retinopathy, cataracts, and visual field defect were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to April 1, 2009. The Veteran was granted separate ratings for open angle glaucoma.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death, and the case cannot be decided on its merits.

The Veteran's death was not related to service-connected conditions, and the appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate for a surviving spouse with no dependents. Therefore, DIC benefits were denied, and both death pension and accrued benefits claims were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right second toe injury and exostosis was denied as the combined rating for his right foot disability is already at or above the maximum allowed by law.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a right eye condition, requiring further examination and opinion.