Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip arthritis, status post replacement and granted it on a secondary basis to her service-connected knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The evidence supports that the Veteran's left hip condition is related to her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues of extraschedular consideration and entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC). The claims for initial rating higher than 10 percent for right middle finger disability, right ring finger disability, right index finger disability, right thumb disability, and right little finger disability are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical examination regarding the Veteran's hand and foot symptoms, which he claims as peripheral arterial disease. The examiner is required to determine if these symptoms represent a diagnosable disability or functional impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right calf strains, finding that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5311.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neurological disorders of both upper extremities due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay testimony and VA treatment records. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether there is a 50% or greater probability that these conditions are related to service, including his reported symptoms during service.

The Board has granted accrued benefits for the period from May 1, 2013 to February 1, 2014 based on evidence that the Appellant used his personal funds to pay assisted living expenses for his deceased mother.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection for a left eye disability, other than a cataract. The examiner did not provide an opinion on whether hepatitis C caused or aggravated the Veteran's left eye disability.

The Veteran's eligibility for internment in a VA national cemetery is granted as he was discharged from active duty due to a service-connected disability (Raynaud's phenomenon).

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU rating has been dismissed because the Veteran and their representative have requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's right hip bursitis is rated at 10 percent since February 19, 2019 for limitation of extension. A separate rating for limitation of flexion was not granted as the evidence did not show functional impairment to that extent.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's empyema was caused by VA's failure to diagnose pneumonia and/or empyema during his treatment in December 2008 and January 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to environmental and chemical exposures during her service at Fort McClellan, which may be related to her colon cancer. The claim will be reconsidered after verifying these exposures and obtaining a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for varicose veins in both lower extremities due to new evidence suggesting an increase in severity since the last examination. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus and hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the claim for dependent benefits for the Veteran's spouse, D.L., as the decision was granted prior to the promulgation of the decision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to inadequate examination findings regarding functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive motion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, carotid artery disease, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus due to conflicting evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder to include Crohn's disease, finding that his current diagnosis of Crohn's disease did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's penile and urethral cancer is presumed to be related to his service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange. However, the Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if there is sufficient evidence linking the cancer directly to his service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's glioblastoma multiforme and to ascertain if he had qualifying service in Southwest Asia. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, leading to the grant of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. As this benefit is higher than that for housebound status, the housebound claim is dismissed.