Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) as it was not received until January 27, 2017.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for cause of death due to esophageal squamous cell cancer, finding that it was not related to service and did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his death was not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for esophageal cancer and the cause of death due to metastatic esophageal cancer, finding that there was no direct evidence linking the condition to military service or a presumptive basis.

The Board has granted the challenge to the creation of an overpayment and dismissed the claim for a waiver of the overpayment debt. The overpayment was improperly created due to VA's failure to inform the Appellant about her divorce from the Veteran, leading to a delay in terminating her apportionment benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining informed consent forms and medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's neck disorder was caused or aggravated by VA treatment in June 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting information regarding the loss incurred by VA and payment made to the mortgage servicer. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining a clear accounting of these matters.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 60 percent for pleural plaque in the right hemothorax prior to February 12, 2018, as it did not meet the criteria for such a higher rating.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to unclear employment status and the need for additional information.

The Veteran's claim for a reduction in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation due to concurrent receipt of military service drill pay is remanded because the number of training days and the amount of drill pay he received during FY 2016 are not verified.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for recognition of his spouse C.P. as a dependent was denied because the earliest written notice of their marriage in the claims file was received on November 19, 2018, more than a year after they were married.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions and failure to consider certain evidence. The Veteran's liver condition is being reviewed again for a determination of whether it was caused or aggravated by service, including asbestos exposure and/or respiratory disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported household income and inability to obtain tax returns from 2014 to present. The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension is being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's eye condition and its relation to service. The Veteran is advised to submit any additional relevant evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer was denied as there is no evidence that his current condition is related to military service.,The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation (TTE) based on treatment for colon cancer necessitating a period of convalescence was denied because the condition is not service-connected.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 16, 1998 for the Veteran's total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a prostate disability, finding that the Veteran's current prostate disability is etiologically related to in-service prostate symptoms. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for an addendum medical opinion from an ENT specialist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's retracted tympanic membrane, as well as whether it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right upper extremity nerve disorders, finding insufficient evidence to adjudicate these claims. The case is returned for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s diagnosed nerve conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a neck condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active duty service.