Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease with right partial colectomy and terminal ileum resection, and pancreatic neoplasm.

The DIC claim is denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for receiving benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of continuous total disability rating. The cause of death remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disorder, which may be related to his service-connected left hip disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's esophageal cancer is related to his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for syringomyelia and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if her symptoms are residuals of her service-connected syringomyelia.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and home health aide/home maker records. The Veteran is required to provide names and addresses of all medical care providers who have treated him for his service-connected disabilities, and updated VA treatment records since July 23, 2020 are needed.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for colon cancer were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of an increase in severity within one year prior to November 21, 2012, and also denied her claim due to her failure to report for VA examinations.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a vision disorder, other than left eye ptosis, including secondary to traumatic injury due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung and prostate disabilities due to presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being returned for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the failure of the RO to verify his employment from 2005 to December 2010. The matter must be further developed, including obtaining updated VA and/or private treatment records, as well as any relevant employment verification and reason for termination from the Veteran’s last employer.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to questions regarding whether the Veteran had capacity to waive transfer to a VA hospital and if the nearest VA facility could have provided necessary care. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's left and right shin splint disabilities are granted with a 10% rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemia of the small bowel, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for additional VR&E benefits to pursue an M.B.A. or J.D. is remanded due to the need for a complete record and further assessment of his vocational rehabilitation needs.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the appellant's income and medical expenses. The appellant is asked to provide updated documentation for 2017 forward.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to determine if the VA's decision to discontinue heart medication in June 2008 caused or aggravated any additional disability of co-morbidities (polysubstance abuse, hypothyroidism and Hepatitis C).

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the rating assigned and the need for a medical opinion addressing flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sinus disability and deviated nasal septum are related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating prior to September 24, 2008 was denied. A 10 percent disability rating is granted from September 24, 2008 for thrombophlebitis of the right lower extremity. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent from September 11, 2014 remains pending and requires further development.

The Board denied service connection for congenital absence of bilateral pectoralis major muscles with recurrent dislocations and a bilateral shoulder disorder other than the congenital condition. The Veteran's congenital defect is not subject to service connection, and his non-congenital shoulder conditions did not begin in service or show continuity of symptomatology.