Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for solitary rectal ulcer syndrome should be remanded to allow for a VA examination and further medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically those from November 1963 to November 1964 when the Veteran was stationed in Thailand. The AOJ is instructed to contact appropriate sources and obtain these records.

The Board has determined that the March 2019 VA examination and opinion are inadequate for adjudication purposes, as no diagnosis is noted. The Veteran's bilateral hand condition was not related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. A new examination and opinion are required.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left shoulder rotator cuff injury with degenerative joint disease is denied as it is not secondary to a service-connected disability. The claims for higher ratings for vertigo and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's brain cancer (Pineoblastoma) was related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The VA must obtain a medical opinion on this issue.

The Board has found that the Veteran's nerve damage is not a result of VA care, but an additional remand is necessary to obtain private medical records and opinions regarding informed consent and standard of care for his spinal surgery.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected cancer, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an ophthalmologist regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed eye disability.

The Board has granted service connection for defective vision of the left eye, which represents a full grant of the benefits sought in the August 1, 1994 decision that declined to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's PPS, as the last VA examination was in 1979. The claim will be reopened due to new evidence submitted since the March 1980 decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cancer of the rectum and hydronephrosis have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these appeals as he died during their pendency.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and were not related to any other condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence not submitted by the Veteran or her representative, and they have not reviewed this evidence yet. The matter will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal for additional dependency benefits based on his child's school attendance from June 2016 to May 2019 was denied because the claim was not filed within one year of the child's 18th birthday or the date of commencement of the course of study.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hand disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of recent VA treatment records and a need for an updated examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current right great toe disability, including degenerative arthrosis and porokeratosis callous. The Veteran should be afforded a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) because his service from August 2015 to March 2016 was excluded due to being entry level and skills training, thus not meeting the requirements for qualifying active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his military service or exposure to engine fumes, exhaust, chemicals, and asbestos.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made.