Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rhabdomyolysis, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 16, 2016 for the award of special monthly pension benefits. The decision is based on the Veteran's submission of a complete application form within one year of receiving incomplete instructions.

The Veteran's right thumb disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling effective October 11, 2022. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of right and left hip replacements are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right big toe amputations, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted from May 21, 2015. DEA eligibility is also granted as of that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right hip disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current schedular evaluations adequately reflected the severity of the Veteran's disability.,The evidence did not show any exceptional or unusual circumstances warranting extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to issues with the evaluation of his right thumb fracture with degenerative changes.,The Board is directed to further adjudicate the issue of entitlement to an additional rating for symptoms of cold and tingling sensation as residuals of the service-connected right thumb fracture with degenerative changes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits as he did not have qualifying active service, and therefore is not eligible for these benefits.

The Veteran's additional periods of active duty service in the Army National Guard do not qualify for Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits, as they were not performed under a call or order to active duty under specified provisions. The Veteran is therefore entitled to the current 60% rate.

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection issues are being decided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services received at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute on May 22, 2014, due to lack of pre-authorization and because the treatment was not provided in an emergency situation.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of clavicle surgery with left upper extremity (LUE) neurological damage is denied because the evidence does not show that VA was at fault in providing care, treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder was granted at a 70 percent level, effective from the date of claim. The appeal is not about service connection but rather about assigning an appropriate disability rating.

The Veteran's residuals of a radical prostatectomy are rated at 60 percent since June 12, 2023.,SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ is granted.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the right thigh muscle injury claim due to inconsistencies in previous VA examinations. The Veteran's TDIU prior to May 17,2019 issue is also remanded as it could be significantly impacted by the severity of his service-connected right thigh injury.

The Veteran's angioedema with urticaria is granted a 30 percent rating from December 1, 2009. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction, knee conditions, low back condition, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has vacated the decision denying an effective date prior to May 20, 2011, for SMC based on a left forefoot amputation. The appeal of the July 27, 2007, effective date is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his TMJ condition was denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms more nearly approximated those required for a 30 percent or 40 percent rating.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right little finger disability was also denied, with the Board finding no compensable rating available under Diagnostic Code 5230.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a left foot disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are no more than moderate.