Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear otitis media as there is no current disability and the evidence does not support a link to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a TMJ condition and TDIU due to the lack of evidence linking the current symptoms to military service.

The Veteran's cause of death, esophageal cancer with metastases and respiratory failure, is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's service or any service-connected conditions and his death.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding service treatment records, including X-rays from a 1966 fall injury. The Veteran's claim for back and hip disability will be reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service connection of dissociative amnesia, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the March 2014 rating decision.

The Board has ordered another remand due to the inadequacy of the VA examination, specifically for a new examination by a physician with experience in sleep disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to the need for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran seeks service connection for infertility and a neurobehavior effects disorder, both linked to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Board has not addressed the direct relationship of these conditions to service.,Service connection is being remanded as there are no definitive opinions on whether the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her in-service exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a crushing injury to the left 4th and 5th fingers of his left hand are currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to July 9, 2011 and 20 percent thereafter. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted as the Board finds that a retained surgical item (guidewire) in the left breast is an additional disability for VA purposes and resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's malignant tumor of the oral cavity is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted service connection for a left leg length discrepancy, finding that it was caused by the Veteran's service-connected right total knee replacement associated with bilateral calcaneal spurs.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's adjustment disorder is related to service or service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the absence of possibly relevant evidence, specifically the Veteran's Social Security records. The decision is pending further development.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date for death pension benefits, finding that the appellant did not timely appeal or submit new and material evidence within the one-year appeal period of the October 14, 2014 denial. The effective date was set at October 16, 2015.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability has not been manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or limitation of extension to 10 degrees, and therefore the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of both knees is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney disability was denied because the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, and no new and material evidence was submitted.

The claim of service connection for a left hip disorder is reopened and remanded. Ratings in excess of 30 percent for left and right knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) by reason of being housebound as the claim was rendered moot due to a prior decision awarding SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board determined that the appellant’s discharge from active service was dishonorable due to prolonged unauthorized absence, and therefore he is barred from receiving VA benefits.