Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left lower extremity disabilities due to a lack of a nexus opinion addressing the Veteran's exposure to chemicals in service.

The Veteran's former attorney is entitled to 20 percent of the past-due benefits granted in a July 2013 rating decision, but the RO did not provide copies of the Statement of the Case and substantive appeal to his former attorney. The case must be remanded for compliance with contested claims procedures.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is related to his service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's anemia and G6PD deficiency are related to his military service.

The appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development regarding the Veteran's competency to handle VA funds, including obtaining recent treatment records from his incarceration and arranging a medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral lower extremities varicosities (varicose veins) as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's left eye visual impairment has worsened, and he cannot see even with his glasses. He needs a magnifying glass to read text and can't write checks due to the condition. The Board is remanding the case for an examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound criteria has been granted, but he is already receiving the maximum rate of special monthly compensation. As a result, his appeal is dismissed as moot.

The appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA DIC and death pension benefits due to a lack of legal marriage, despite her claim.

The Board found that the Appellant was recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA benefits purposes due to their common law marriage in Alabama, and granted her claim.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the cause of the Veteran’s death. The remand is due to an incomplete search by JSRRC regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand.

The Veteran's spouse is being asked to provide more evidence regarding her claims for accrued benefits and reimbursement of medical expenses. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional review.

The Veteran's claim for recognition of his spouse, P., as a dependent was denied due to the lack of submission of a divorce decree. The Board has ordered remand to locate and associate this missing document with the claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of parasitic lung infection due to insufficient rationale in the previous opinion and the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's thrombosis, TIA, and cerebral infarction associated with hypertensive vascular disease are granted a 100% disability rating from December 15, 2015 to June 1, 2016. The appeal is remanded for further service connection determinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's nasopharyngeal cancer was related to his service, including potential herbicide exposure. The Board also needs to determine if another condition at death was likely a cause or significant contributing factor.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona from March 24 to March 27, 2015 was approved for payment by VA due to the nature of his condition being severe enough that immediate medical attention was necessary to avoid health hazard, and no feasible VA facility was available.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell cancer of the tongue, finding that it is as likely as not attributable to an in-service occurrence.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma secondary to service-connected hyperkeratosis and denied a compensable rating for residuals of removal of a lesion of the left face below the left lower eyelid due to hyperkeratosis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracic spine disability was denied as there is no indication of flexion limited to 60 degrees or less, an abnormal spinal contour or gait, or incapacitating episodes requiring medically prescribed bed rest. The preponderance of the evidence does not support a higher rating.