Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's cancer, including rectal squamous cell carcinoma and any other squamous cell carcinoma, is presumed to be related to service due to exposure to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange. However, the Board has remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the cancer.

The Board denied service connection for a neurological disorder of the bilateral upper extremities, finding no probative evidence linking it to service or service-connected low back pain syndrome.

The Veteran's bilateral eye photophobia does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria, as it does not cause impairment of visual acuity or field of vision.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death, and no service connection issues are addressed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for a VCAA letter. The Veteran's cause of death is being considered, but there are issues with obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral leg shin splints, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, bilateral foot disorders, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathies are all denied.,The Veteran's initial rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has not received all relevant documents needed to decide the Veteran's clothing allowance claims for 2013. The appeal is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chest condition and granted it, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the current disability was caused by or incurred in service.

The Veteran's appeal was 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 veteran's claim for service connection for a left arm and elbow disability, including congenital proximal radioulnar ankylosis with left elbow degenerative joint disease. The Board found that the condition clearly existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder and a cardiac disorder, finding that the Veteran did not have current disabilities related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's ventricular arrhythmia with implanted defibrillator, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative changes were denied. The rating for the right knee was not granted in excess of 20 percent prior to November 6, 2017, and a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter. For the left knee, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 27, 2015, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the case, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board has restored the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits, finding that their discontinuance was improper due to lack of clear and convincing evidence regarding employment status.

The claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran’s death is denied as there is no evidence showing a direct relationship between his active military service and his death from acute myelogenous leukemia. The Board also found that there was no probative evidence demonstrating exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange, which would support presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) effective November 25, 2009. The appeal is being remanded due to issues related to substitution as an appellant and contested claims procedures.

The appeal of the Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to procedural issues related to eligibility for substitution as a claimant. The RO must ensure full compliance with contested claims procedures and provide P.G. with previously-issued documents in T.H.'s appeal.

The Board has found that the Veteran's notices of disagreement were timely filed regarding her claims for service connection for a hysterectomy and dental disorder. However, due to the remand, a Statement of the Case must be issued on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claim due to incomplete documentation and failure to contact the Veteran for additional information.