Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's alcohol dependence is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, as well as any personality disorders he may have.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, chronic granulocytic leukemia, did not begin during service and is not related to any in-service injury or disease. The VA examiners' opinions support this conclusion.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for left eye pterygium prior to June 21, 2019 is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected left eye pterygium from June 21, 2019 to October 31, 2019 is denied.,A disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the service-connected left eye pterygium from November 1, 2019 is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's trigger thumb, left hand disability and TDIU rating due to service-connected disabilities need further development. The decision is remanded for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the trigger thumb, left hand.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for a left leg disability, including leg amputation, lack of blood flow and oxygen, lymphadenitis, and/or cellulitis is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disorder, specifically his claims for service connection. The AOJ is required to obtain and associate all outstanding VA treatment records from the Louisville VAMC and provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease due to inadequate examination and missing information from a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for TDIU and SMC benefits prior to February 1, 2014 due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's employment status. The RO is instructed to confirm the Veteran's employment after his previous employer (SPC Corporation) and obtain information from the IRS and SSA about his work history. They are also directed to contact SPC Corporation for any accommodations made during his employment.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the addition of the Veteran's spouse, C.L.H., to his award of VA disability compensation. The decision found that no claim was filed prior to May 3, 2018.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 20, 2015 due to service-connected neck and back disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for lipomas, finding that the Veteran's lipomas are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for ulcerative colitis and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for ileostomy surgery due to insufficient development in previous decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anal disability, including anal fissure, anal pain, and anal fistula, is at least as likely as not related to service. As such, service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's pseudomonas infection, right orchiectomy and scrotal resection, and prostate resection resulted from VA cystoscopy and prostate biopsy. The opinion should address whether the disability was proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has remanded the claim for a skin disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure. The examiner is asked to provide an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's skin condition and considering various potential causes.

The Veteran's representative argues that the Veteran did not receive adequate notice for a VA neurology examination due to pandemic conditions. The Board finds another remand is warranted to afford the Veteran an opportunity to undergo this examination.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity, as the existing evidence does not allow for proper rating under the revised criteria.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decision can be made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting findings and inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's left eye disability, including its relationship to service and a traumatic brain injury.