Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for SMC benefits is being remanded due to the need for an addendum medical opinion addressing whether his service-connected disabilities alone render him in need of aid and attendance or housebound.

The Board denied service connection for right and left eye disabilities, as well as a rating greater than 10 percent for hypertension and a compensable rating for hemorrhoids. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.,Service connection could not be established due to lack of evidence showing that the current eye disabilities were caused by or aggravated by service-connected Bell’s palsy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the appellant's spouse's service in the Philippine Army during World War II and his status as a former prisoner of war. The appellant needs to provide evidence that her spouse applied for or received VA benefits, and she should apply to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout and recurrent pneumonia, finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year following service. The Board also found that they are not related to a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for reinstatement of VA survivor's pension benefits due to her excessive income, specifically from Medicare Part B insurance premiums and in-home caregiver fees. The Board found that she did not provide sufficient documentation for these expenses.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's chronic prostatitis is related to his service. The case will be returned for additional development, including a supplemental medical opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pancreatitis, status post cholecystectomy, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and a need for further medical opinion regarding the Veteran's exposure to radiation and its relation to his colorectal cancer.

The Veteran's post-left nephrectomy complications, including left abdominal diastasis, incisional hernia, and nerve damage, are not proximately due to or the result of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. Therefore, his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's daughter seeks accrued pension benefits for the period from December 1, 2010 to October 1, 2011. The Board denied this claim as she is not a dependent child and did not incur expenses of last sickness or burial.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for spinocerebellar degenerative disease, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

Service connection is granted for muscle twitching, presumed due to undiagnosed illness related to service in Southwest Asia.,Service connection is denied for fatigue and gout.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a jaw disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating from 100% to 0% for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) effective February 1, 2018 was proper and denied restoration of a 100% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and loss of a left ear, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or in-service events related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for CLL due to exposure to carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene, as well as the claim for TDIU. The VA is required to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current CLL and his alleged exposure to carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to June 8, 2016, and for TDIU due to newly received VA treatment records. The AOJ should consider these records in their initial review.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding direct service connection and aggravation by a service-connected condition. The Veteran's left hip disorder is being reviewed for possible secondary service connection.

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

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for interstitial lung disease and organizing pneumonia with fibrosis due to extreme dust exposure, as the May 2020 VA examination report is not complete.