Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a chest disability and an eye disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on the presumption of combat-related injury under 38 U.S.C. § 1154(b).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meige Syndrome is related to his service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection for Meige Syndrome is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for blood clots in the lungs and secondary service connection for right calf deep venous thrombosis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and potential herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran’s surviving spouse should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding her knowledge of the legal impediment and continuous cohabitation with the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for gout due to inadequate response from a previous VA examiner and insufficient consideration of relevant post-service treatment records. The case is being returned for an addendum opinion.

The Board has determined that it is as likely as not that the Veteran's leukemia was caused by his exposure to herbicides in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the appellant is considered the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA benefits eligibility purposes, resolving reasonable doubt in her favor.

The VA denied the claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred from July 28 to September 30, 2017 at Oregon State Hospital due to the treatment being provided as a patient in an institution of another government agency (OHA) that had a duty to provide such care.

The Veteran's service-connected left leg DVT has rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as of October 1, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran was not entitled to drill pay in 2015 and thus, there was no overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits. As a result, the debt for $112.07 was not validly created.

The Board denied the claim for accrued benefits as there were no unpaid VA periodic monetary benefits at the time of the Veteran's surviving spouse's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current staph infection or MRSA disability for VA compensation purposes, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for trigeminal neuralgia, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current disability and active military service. The Board also found that secondary service connection was not warranted due to his service-connected hearing loss or otitis externa.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's OSTSD is rated at 50 percent, effective November 10, 2014. The symptoms and impairment caused by the condition do not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's myositis was granted a 20 percent disability rating effective October 20, 2015. The previous rating of 10 percent prior to that date is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection and rating increases has been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's death is due to morbid obesity and congestive cardiomyopathy, but remanded for further development regarding whether service-connected conditions contributed to his death or if herbicide exposure was a factor.