Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's lung disability, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and its sequelae, is remanded for further examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his military service, particularly exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal stromal tumor and neuroendocrine tumors, finding that the conditions are not related to service or service-connected kidney cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding osteoporosis prior to August 29, 2016. The Veteran needs to provide records from his private treatment providers and VA facilities for that period.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory problems, specifically COPD and congestive heart failure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's bilateral lung disability. The AOJ needs to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician to determine if the Veteran’s condition is related to in-service exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or in-service exposure. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-5, S-1. Additionally, a TDIU claim will be remanded as well.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's myelofibrosis, which may be related to his service in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder was granted service connection effective November 8, 2000. Prior to March 26, 2018, he received a 70% rating for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a left retrocalcaneal spur, finding that the current condition is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for additional compensation for his dependent spouse due to an overpayment created by VA, as the Veteran did not timely inform VA of his remarriage and continued to accept the excess payments.

The Veteran's surviving spouse died in November 2014, and the Appellant was not eligible for accrued benefits as she did not meet the criteria of being a child or having paid last expenses. The claim for reimbursement of last sickness and burial expenses was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disability, attributing it to the Veteran's inability to provide proof of a current disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not show or suggest that a psychosis developed in-service or within two years after discharge. The preponderance of the evidence indicated that the Veteran had a psychotic disorder prior to entering service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left eye injury and gastrointestinal disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his symptoms.

The Veteran's request for an extension of the delimiting date for receiving Chapter 30 educational benefits was denied as he did not meet the requirements for such an extension.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's eyelid surgeries.

The Veteran's service connection for the cause of his death is granted because his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation was a contributory cause of his colon cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his peripheral neuropathy. A new examination by a neurologist is needed.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for a superficial shrapnel wound to the right posterior iliac crest prior to September 18, 2018, and a rating in excess of 10 percent as of September 18, 2018, for a right posterior iliac crest scar.