Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for back pain and cold injury residuals of the extremities is granted. The issue of service connection for cold injury residuals of the extremities is remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 1, 2000 for DIC benefits as the appellant filed for SSA survivor benefits within one year of her husband's death.

The Veteran's service-connected status post laminectomy with spondylolisthesis L4 and L5 is granted a compensable evaluation of 40 percent, effective from November 17, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his low back disability prior to July 1, 2019 and from July 1, 2019 were denied as the evidence did not show that he met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing Medicare EOBs submitted by the Veteran in December 2022, and the AOJ must consider these documents when readjudicating the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current skin condition related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred from December 9, 2012, to December 12, 2012, at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) is denied because the VA cannot make payment due to lack of information regarding coverage under a healthcare plan and exhaustion of remedies against such plan.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to service connection for right hand disorder and left hand disorder due to additional development being needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's coverage under Medicare Part A and whether he received ambulance travel services. The Veteran needs to provide an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from Medicare or evidence that he was not covered by Medicare, as well as clarify if reimbursement is for medical treatment or ambulance travel.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left arm and forearm disabilities due to a need for further examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation and radio-frequency radiation, which may be related to his multiple myeloma. The Veteran is asked to provide additional details about his duties during service.

The Board denied service connection for spinal stenosis, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right eye disability is aggravated by his service-connected left eye injury. The VA needs to obtain a new medical opinion addressing this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate April 2023 VA opinion and failure to address theories of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is rated at 70 percent from November 18, 2010, to August 11, 2020. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient severe symptoms warranting a 100% rating or total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for additional examinations, including a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for his left thumb disability and a compensable rating for the associated scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right hip musculoligamentous strain with tendonitis (limitation of flexion) and left hip musculoligamentous strain with tendonitis and thigh impairment have been granted increased ratings, while the right hip limitation of extension has not.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple myeloma as there is no current evidence of the condition and the Veteran did not serve at Camp Lejeune, which would have allowed for presumptive service connection based on exposure to contaminated water. The claim was decided on a direct basis.

The Veteran's hypertensive vascular disease was rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on diastolic pressure being predominantly 120 or more.