Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any recurrent malaria residuals and their relationship to active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice connected pension benefits as he did not meet the minimum active duty service requirement, despite his claims of two periods of active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's scleroderma began during his military service and is related to it, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA education benefits under the NCS program because he did not meet the eligibility criteria, specifically having entered service prior to October 1, 2003.

The Board found that the overpayment of $74,477.71 was due to sole administrative error on VA's part without the Veteran's knowledge and thus is not a valid debt.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a temporary total evaluation due to treatment for a service-connected condition requiring convalescence. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted an extension of a temporary total rating for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of tarsal tunnel release surgery of the right lower extremity (RLE) to October 31, 2016, but no later. The decision is based on the need for convalescence following the surgery.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of an allegation of error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot peroneal tendonitis, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current condition and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear medical evidence regarding the type and scope of the Veteran's service-connected disability. The issues on appeal are whether the discontinuance of the 100 percent evaluation for large schwannoma is proper, and whether a compensable rating should be assigned from October 1, 2015.

The Board denied payment of medical expenses incurred from February 24, 2007, to March 21, 2007, at SMMC due to the lack of sufficient evidence and because VA was not authorized to reimburse or pay for treatment provided after 'the veteran could be transferred safely to a VA facility or other Federal facility'.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals from a right eye injury, finding that there was no medical evidence to support a nexus between his current eye conditions and his in-service injury.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to metastatic adenocarcinoma of the breast, finding no evidence linking it to service or service-connected conditions. The Board also found no evidence that diabetes mellitus contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right thumb strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating due to functional loss and no gap between the thumb pad and fingers.,Prior to March 21, 2022, the Veteran's lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis was rated at 10 percent. From March 21, 2022, it is not higher than 40 percent due to lack of unfavorable ankylosis or IVDS.,Beginning October 17, 2022, the Veteran's right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at 20 percent each. The rating for left knee strain with old avulsion fracture and fragments of the lateral aspect of the proximal tibia is not higher than 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has decided to reduce the Veteran's right hand disability rating from 10% to noncompensable (0%) effective September 1, 2015. However, due to a missing VA examination report, the decision is being remanded for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral ovarian cyst, finding that her condition had its onset during active service and is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right hip disability, which includes limitation of abduction, adduction and rotation, is rated at a 10 percent disability rating. The claim for an increased rating for acetabular impingement syndrome and sacroiliac dysfunction was granted with a separate noncompensable rating for limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran was infertile before natural menopause, and if so, whether it is caused by her in-service military sexual trauma (MST), condyloma residuals, or FSAD.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's gunshot wound residuals due to his willful misconduct. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's discoid lupus erythematosus.