Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied a compensable initial rating for the Veteran's umbilical hernia, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as there was no indication of use of a belt or weakening of the abdominal wall.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not eligible for nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to lack of recognized service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's eye disability, specifically whether it is related to his military service or Gulf War exposure. The Veteran was diagnosed with idiopathic orbital inflammation during service but no current diagnosis of this condition exists in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's Pineoblastoma was related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The claim is being returned for further development and an adequate opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the May 2013 VA examiner's report regarding the Veteran's METs level, which could impact his disability rating for surgical residuals of a coarctation of the aorta. The case is now pending further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's thoracic spine disorder was rated at 10 percent from April 18, 2011 to January 1, 2020 due to limited forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the cause of death, specifically esophageal cancer.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for gout should be remanded due to concerns about overlooked early manifestations of gout during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal to establish that her $500,000 FTCA settlement should not offset her VA compensation benefits. The Court had previously vacated the decision and remanded for further development due to unclear allocation of the settlement amount.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for Chapter 31 benefits needs to be reviewed again due to incomplete documentation. The case is being sent back for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's essential tremors are related to service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange and/or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for his essential tremors as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, diabetes, or impingement syndrome of the bilateral shoulders.

The appeal regarding the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to February 27, 2015 has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge does not constitute willful and persistent misconduct, thus her OTH discharge is not a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for vaginal and breast cysts, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during her military service or are related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions and additional development is needed for a supplemental VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain the Veteran's DFAS pay history for March 2013 and from September 2013 to December 2013, and to confirm if a prior $1,600 debt was part of the current overpayment calculation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's defective vision, diagnosed as age-related macular degeneration, is not related to his service or any service-connected conditions. Therefore, service connection for defective vision is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dysphagia, vocal cord paralysis and achalasia were denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his active duty or due to VA care.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional opinions regarding the relationship of the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma to service, including his existing seborrhea.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision loss due to pituitary macroadenoma, with moderate mass effect on the optic chiasm. The evidence did not support a relationship between the Veteran’s vision loss and his military service including exposure to herbicide agents.