Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for alopecia, neck pain and stiffness, and left leg pain due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any diagnosis of alopecia during service, but he was diagnosed with vitiligo while still in service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the Veteran’s alopecia is related to his service-connected conditions or an in-service event.

The Board found that the withholding of compensation benefits to recoup the Veteran's separation pay was proper and denied the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a left leg injury was reopened and granted, with service connection established based on aggravation during active duty.,Service connection for the Veteran's skin condition of the groin area (diagnosed as dermatitis, vitiligo, or lichen simplex chronicus) was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) prior to September 11, 2019, and from September 11, 2019, was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for herpes simplex was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits is granted due to the validity of the debt and the determination that collection would be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for discoid lupus erythematosus, claimed as chronic pityriasis / pityriasis rosea, is denied. The Board found that the March 2004 and December 2007 rating decisions were final, and there was no evidence of a claim prior to October 30, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected spondylolysis L4 with spondylolisthesis L4-5 and disc bulge L4-5 is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition, as he reported worsening since the last examination in June 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a fracture, right femur, including osteomyelitis was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the condition is related to his active military service and granted service connection based on aggravation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to procedural errors in the initial decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left knee disability is denied. A separate 20 percent rating, but not higher, is granted for her chondromalacia of the left patella with meniscal tear and joint effusion. The case is remanded to determine service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a right eye disability, finding that new and material evidence supports the claim. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran regarding the cause of his current right eye condition, concluding it is related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability, including testing active and passive motion with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing. The examiner must also consider any flare-ups and their effects on functional loss.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral lower and upper extremity disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking CML and/or AML to his service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bone loss and residuals of rabies, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a relationship to active service.

The Board has decided that the appellant's discharge from service is dishonorable, but not for the entire period of his service. The decision to remand requires obtaining a complete copy of the appellant’s personnel records.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for emphysema has been reopened, but the issue remains remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cause of death and the appellant's income for nonservice-connected survivor pension benefits. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right lung are being remanded for an additional examination due to concerns about the adequacy of the September 2016 VA examination and the need for post-bronchodilator studies.