Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinion and the need for additional evidence. The Veteran's colon cancer may have been caused by service, but a medical opinion is needed to determine its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal for reopening a previously denied claim for myotonic dystrophy, Type II, to include as secondary to service-connected coronary artery disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has found that the Appellant may not be recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA purposes due to conflicting findings regarding cohabitation and prior marriage. The case is remanded to resend requests for Mexican court records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for breathing problems and low platelet count due to potential asbestos exposure during service aboard USS MIDWAY in Vietnam, as well as possible herbicide exposure. Additional development is needed including verification of service in official waters and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the nature, status, etiology, and progression of his claimed respiratory disability, bilateral flatfeet, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, residuals of gunshot wound to the right upper extremity, and TDIU. The current evaluations are not sufficient to make a determination on these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate November 2015 VA opinion and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's supraventricular arrhythmia.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's pension claim should be remanded due to updated net worth information and the need for a new Corpus of Estate Determination Form.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and clarification of diagnoses, as well as opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed left elbow and left hand disabilities. The issues will be reconsidered after these steps are taken.

The Board dismissed the claim of entitlement to TDIU due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder) and schizoaffective disorder with unspecified eating disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The appeal regarding attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a September 2018 rating decision is dismissed as the RO has already processed and paid the attorney fees.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of recognizing step-child Y. as a dependent because the proposed removal was not treated as an effective Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension at the rate for a surviving spouse with no dependents and with the need for aid and attendance, effective August 2, 2019. The decision is based on her income exceeding the maximum annual improved pension rates due to unreimbursed medical expenses.

The Veteran's appeal for stair glide equipment reimbursement was dismissed due to their death.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuralgia of the left upper extremity and bilateral corneal opacities as he failed to identify specific determinations with which he disagreed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a proper VA examination for lupus, which is necessary to determine if the Veteran's current diagnosis and symptoms are related to his service.

The Veteran's CLL is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and precancerous actinic keratosis, is granted as service connected due to in-service sun exposure. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise that his current condition was caused by his time in service.