Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that further development is required to ensure a complete record before deciding the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and compensable ratings for his service-connected left hip disabilities.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to evaluate the Veteran's cardiac disability and determine if it is related to his in-service chest pain.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed urinary dysfunction. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's ability to use aid and attendance benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hallux valgus and hallux rigidus of the left foot has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to any decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for right elbow lateral epicondylitis claimed as chronic right elbow pain, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active duty service and resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's bilateral Morton's neuroma is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, which is the highest possible rating for this condition. The appeal for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inaccuracies in the exposure report and a need for further research into the Veteran's claimed exposures. The Veteran is seeking service connection for throat cancer, but his claims are being held up because of discrepancies in his military records regarding his alleged exposure to chemical or biological agents.

The Board denied service connection for an arachnoid cyst on the brain, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disability and military service.

The Board denied the appellant's request for retroactive DEA benefits prior to December 8, 2016 due to his failure to timely elect a beginning date within the required 60-day period.

The Board has remanded the claim for a left calf disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service.

The appeal was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal through his authorized representative before a decision could be made.

The Veteran's service-connected epididymal cysts, right greater than left (previously rated as right-sided hydrocele), were granted a 10 percent rating prior to March 19, 2014. The decision also found that the Veteran had daytime voiding intervals between two and three hours and awakening to void two times per night.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder and alcohol use disorder, is considered to have occurred in the line of duty. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for rectal bleeding and stomach disability, finding no current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of an inguinal hernia or any associated residuals, and thus the claim for service connection for an inguinal hernia is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added since the May 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left heel disabilities, as well as hallux valgus of the right and left feet, are denied. The Board found that the current 30 percent rating for right and left heel residuals with arthritis is appropriate based on moderate to severe symptoms without actual loss of use.,The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for bilateral hallux valgus were also denied as there was no evidence of a condition equivalent to amputation or surgery.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether VA provided proper care.

The Veteran's cerebrovascular accident/stroke residuals and need for aid and attendance are remanded due to inadequate opinions in the addendum.