Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right foot conditions due to inadequate medical opinions in the original decision.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral macular drusen is being remanded due to the need for further development and an addendum medical opinion.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim that his character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits, finding that it remains a statutory bar due to multiple periods of unauthorized absence without leave (AWOL).

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA medical opinion from an orthopedic surgeon or neurosurgeon to determine if the Veteran's paraplegia of the lower extremities, loss of bladder control, and/or any additional lumbar spine disability was proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in performing the February 3, 2015 surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's genitourinary and/or nephrological disability associated with his in-service kidney surgery. The RO is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records, identify any outstanding private treatment records, and schedule DBQs for the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a dental disability subject to VA compensation.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance, based on permanent and total disability status.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for clarification of a VHA medical expert's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's esophageal cancer and pulmonary granulomatous disease were related to his service, specifically his exposure to toxins during service in Southwest Asia. The remand also includes an inquiry into whether the in-service findings of old granulomatous disease proximately caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining private treatment records from Largo Medical Center, as these records have not been considered yet.

The Board has not received substantial compliance with its previous remand directives regarding the issue of TDIU. The Veteran's work history information is incomplete, and the RO needs to seek additional information from her.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative changes did not more nearly approximate severe instability, and the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for a disorder manifested by blood in urine and Peyronie's disease. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional VA medical records, request information from the Veteran about his treatment providers, and provide an updated VA medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board denied service connection for a sleeping disorder, including as sleep deprivation and obesity, due to lack of evidence showing the condition was related to military service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the addendum opinion provided by the VA physician. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion that follows the prior remand directive.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral cerumen impaction.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, leaving no issues to be decided by the Board.

The Board has granted service connection for left leg numbness, including the symptoms of peroneal nerve injury and left foot drop. The decision is based on chronic disease presumptive service connection due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied. The effective date for service connection was set at January 10, 2017, and the rating for cold injury residuals of the right hand remains at 30 percent. For the left foot, a 20 percent rating is granted as of April 23, 2014.

The Board has denied the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the Veteran did not provide the necessary information to substantiate his claim, including an Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability (VA Form 21-8940).