Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding an increased rating for a shrapnel wound to the left forearm, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's right hand disability, including a fourth finger fracture, is currently rated as non-compensable. The Board has found the July 2017 rating decision inadequate and remanded for further development, specifically to obtain an updated VA examination that assesses functional loss due to flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a neck disorder due to insufficient medical opinion and need for additional development.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected atrial fibrillation from March 4, 2008. The decision is based on the Veteran's testimony and medical evidence showing that his atrial fibrillation was permanent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding previously diagnosed skin disorders and their relation to service, including presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected survivor's pension benefits due to the appellant's income exceeding the applicable maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tonsillitis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service. The VA-contract medical opinion concluded that any current tonsil problems were likely due to post-service conditions such as GERD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's back disability was initially rated at 40 percent prior to May 2, 2017. From that date onwards, the rating was increased to 50 percent due to ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has not made a decision on the service connection for dystonia/muscle spasms of the upper extremities, as it is unclear whether this issue was raised or decided. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from the appropriate clinician.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and lack of discussion regarding the Veteran's specific interests, aptitudes, and abilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding private and VA treatment records and refer the matter back to the VRC for an addendum report addressing how the Veteran's education and experiences are adequate to obtain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of drill pay in FY 2016 is being remanded for an accounting and clarification of the amounts paid.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The appeal is remanded for further proceedings, including verifying the Veteran's alleged exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Okinawa.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's Gulf War syndrome and related symptoms. The VA examiner needs to provide a more detailed opinion on whether these conditions are related to service, including exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Reiter's syndrome was denied as the Veteran failed to attend a scheduled VA examination without providing a reason.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a dental disorder has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot because they were granted eligibility for specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Cushing's syndrome and hyperaldosteronism are remanded due to the need for a VA examination. The Veteran asserts that his conditions are related to in-service herbicide exposure, but there is no direct evidence of such exposure. For pheochromocytoma, the claim is also remanded as it requires an opinion on whether the condition is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastrointestinal (GI) condition, finding that it is proximately due to or aggravated by his alcohol abuse and/or medications used to control his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for basal cell carcinoma residuals is granted. The claim for multiple meningiomas, claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure, is remanded.