Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's adenocarcinoma, status-post left upper lobectomy, is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete VA examination and lack of opinion on service connection for a thoracic spine disability (claimed as residuals of an upper back injury). The examiner is requested to provide opinions regarding whether the condition is related to active military service, caused by or aggravated by service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's daughter is seeking accrued benefits for the expenses of her father's last sickness and burial. The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding who paid these expenses.

The Veteran's evaluation for stroke residuals was reduced from 100% to two separate 10% evaluations, effective January 1, 2014. The Board has decided that the reduction is improper and remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and additional examination needed. The issue is to determine if a higher evaluation for intervertebral disc syndrome, previously characterized as right sacroiliitis, should be granted.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as secondary to PTSD, finding that there was no medical evidence linking the Veteran’s metastatic pancreas cancer to his service-connected conditions or alcohol abuse due to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of zero percent (noncompensable) for diplopia has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing their appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for psoriatic arthritis secondary to Agent Orange exposure is denied. Additionally, his claims for increased evaluations for various fingers and thumb disabilities are also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and will consider new evidence for service connection.

The appeal is remanded due to missing VA treatment records from August 2010 to December 2015. The Board will attempt to obtain these records and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for a residual fracture of the left greater toe has been dismissed due to his death prior to any decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's terminal pancreatic cancer was at least as likely as not causally related to herbicide agent exposure in service, and therefore grants DIC based on service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran claims that VA did not provide sufficient retroactive payments after a July 2016 grant of TDIU, effective July 23, 2009. The Board has decided to remand the case for a detailed explanation of each payment.

The Veteran's impairment of muscle group XII is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating (30%) and no higher, as he already receives this highest available rating. Therefore, his claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bone loss/loss of teeth may be associated with VA treatment.

The Veteran's cause of death was granted service connection in an April 2019 rating decision, thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for chronic diarrhea and heartburn, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for residuals of a heel contusion because there was no new and material evidence presented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he has a current sleep disorder and whether it is related to his active duty service or his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals, postoperative neuroma of the right foot and sesamoid fracture are rated at 30 percent since November 2010. The rating is effective from October 5, 2009.