Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a bladder disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine fusion with DDD of the L5-S1, finding that the evidence supports this conclusion and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's child, B.G., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to his disabilities. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child.

The Veteran's appeal for reimbursement of medical expenses is dismissed without prejudice due to their death.

The Board has remanded the case due to a non-compliant VA examination, requiring a new evaluation of the Veteran's right tibia stress fracture.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for back disability, including Degenerative Joint Disease and Residuals of a fracture at L1. The Veteran's claims are now pending again.

The appeal is dismissed because the Appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has not found substantial compliance with previous remand directives and requires further development regarding the Veteran's reimbursement for beneficiary travel expenses to a VA medical facility. The AOJ is instructed to obtain financial information from 2016 and 2017, including contacting the Veteran if necessary.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, finding that no formal or informal claim was received prior to June 28, 2016. The decision also noted that VA is not responsible for a VSO's failure to file a claim on behalf of the appellant.

The Board has dismissed the issues of entitlement to service connection for numbness of the right upper extremity, numbness of the left upper extremity, numbness of the right and left lower extremities, a gastrointestinal disability, and a bunion of the left foot as the Veteran's representative withdrew these claims prior to the promulgation of the Board decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder. The claim will be reviewed with a new examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disorder and nasal disorder, finding that there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology, and that any current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including failure to provide copies of the statement of the case and substantive appeal to the Appellant.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma involving disfigurement of the face prior to May 28, 2019 is granted. The claim for a higher rating for facial scars that are unstable and/or painful beginning June 9, 2022 is granted. Claims for increased ratings for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma involving the anterior trunk and posterior trunk/left upper extremity are denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for residuals of bilateral inguinal hernia repair and denied service connection for a balance disorder. The Veteran's symptoms were not found to be related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck condition and entitlement to a temporary total rating based on convalescence. The VA will obtain updated treatment records, SSA records, and inpatient treatment records from specific hospitals. They will also seek addendum opinions from an orthopedist regarding whether the Veteran's neck condition is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability or if it has been aggravated by that condition.