Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for peptic ulcers, service connection for chronic respiratory disorder, and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for peptic ulcers or service connection for chronic respiratory disorder. Additionally, the Veteran was determined to be unemployable based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for CIDP as there was no evidence of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or Agent Orange in Okinawa, and the Veteran's lay statements were not sufficient to establish causation.

The Veteran's spouse, H., was added as his dependent to his VA disability compensation effective July 13, 1989.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his conditions were not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board denied the appellant's application for VA death pension benefits because her income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, and she did not qualify based on her countable income.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to a lack of proper range of motion testing in previous VA examinations.

The appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based upon the need for aid and attendance and/or housebound status is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for joint disease, including psoriatic arthritis, arthritis, gout, Paget's disease, and osteoporosis, has been dismissed as the Veteran's attorney withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for the cause of death, specifically related to Agent Orange exposure and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with chronic depressed mood is rated at a 50 percent rating, but the Board has remanded to determine if TDIU should be granted.

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

The Veteran's cause of death, glioblastoma multiforme, was not service-connected as it did not develop during or within one year after his military service. The Board found no evidence linking the glioblastoma to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a non-VA hospitalization at Murphy Medical Center on September 24, 2018. Specifically, the AOJ must secure and associate with the claims file the January 8, 2019 decision on appeal (denial letter with appellate rights) for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses, if available for printout. The AOJ should also contact the Veteran to obtain private medical records from a local walk-in clinic dated in September 2018 and provide her with an authorization form for VA to obtain these records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an enlarged prostate, finding no evidence linking it to his active military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current eye disability and his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right-hand injury has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for residuals of a head injury.

The Board has granted service connection for right testicular cancer, finding that the condition had its onset during or within a year of the Veteran's discharge from active duty. The decision is based on evidence showing the cancer developed during his period of service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left lower extremity blood clot disability had its onset during service or is etiologically related to his active service, and if so, whether it caused additional disability. The examiner must consider all of the Veteran’s symptoms, including complaints of left lower extremity swelling and pain.