Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has expanded the Veteran's initial claim to include entitlement to service connection for a left lower extremity disability, including the ankle. The Veteran seeks service connection for her current left knee/leg arthritis and related pain since service. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary due to the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating for service-connected residuals of torn ligaments in the middle finger left hand prior to October 28, 2015. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's request for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant is being remanded due to new evidence received after the May 2019 Statement of the Case. The VA will review this evidence and issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has decided that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral eye conditions, ear condition, and sleep disorder. The issues are being remanded to obtain further medical opinions and to ensure all relevant records have been obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a pituitary tumor, radiation-induced alopecia, amenorrhea, and female sexual arousal disorder. The Veteran was granted special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, claimed as PTSD, has been granted a 50 percent disability evaluation for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death, finding that his heart attack and cerebrovascular accident were not related to service. The Board also remanded the issue of survivor's pension benefits at the aid and attendance rate.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right thumb flexor tendon laceration and determined that it is warranted based on new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for macular degeneration and cataracts due to exposure to herbicide agents or as secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease, requiring an addendum opinion from an eye clinician.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 9, 2019 for the award of special monthly death pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance for the surviving spouse. The decision is based on the appellant's intent to file a claim for survivor benefits at that time.

The Board denied DIC benefits for the Appellant as he is married and thus not eligible to be recognized as a helpless child.

The appeal for service connection of the Veteran's right middle and index finger disorders is being remanded due to outstanding records from the Social Security Administration.

The Board has remanded the case due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including failing to provide the Appellant with a copy of the hearing transcript and an opportunity to respond. The AOJ is required to correct these issues.

The Board has granted an effective date of August 3, 2015 for the grant of service connection for left and right arm/hand cold injury residuals, claimed as carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran possesses mental capacity to handle his own financial affairs, including disbursement of VA funds. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran possesses mental capacity to handle his own financial affairs, including disbursement of VA funds. The appeal is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for payment of ambulance services on June 23, 2019 is remanded due to a lack of documentation regarding whether VHA rendered a determination on entitlement to payment under 38 U.S.C. § 1725.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding reimbursement of medical expenses as the appellant requested a withdrawal.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood was rated under the General Rating Formula for Psychiatric Disabilities. The Board denied entitlement to initial compensable rating prior to August 13, 2021 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the case for additional medical review and opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for decreased sense of smell. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the condition can be attributed to known clinical diagnoses, or if it constitutes an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness. They are also asked to address whether the condition was incurred in or aggravated during service and its relation to any service-connected conditions.