Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, finding that there was no evidence to support a current disability related to his in-service head injury and noting conflicting medical opinions regarding the relationship between his stroke and military service.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma, finding no direct evidence linking the condition to Agent Orange exposure or any other in-service event.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between in-service herbicide exposure and the Veteran's glioblastoma primary brain tumor.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right thigh disability. The Veteran will need a new VA examination and an addendum opinion to determine the appropriate disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's brain disability, including dementia, is related to his service. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran’s diagnoses and his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for skin conditions of his feet, bilateral hearing loss disability, and left knee disability due to lack of current VA treatment records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected right-hand arthritis, affecting the third metacarpophalangeal joint was denied as x-ray evidence did not show involvement of two or more major joints or minor joint groups. The preponderance of the evidence reflects that the criteria for a compensable rating have not been met.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma and its relation to service, specifically exposure to Dioxin and liver flukes. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his cancer is related to his military service.

The Veteran's adult daughter, M.C., is seeking recognition as his 'helpless child' due to her permanent incapacity for self-support prior to turning 18. The Board has ordered additional records from treatment providers and educational institutions to determine if she was receiving special education services.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and readjudication due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has denied an increased rating for bilateral metatarsalgia and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's salivary gland oncocytoma condition, which is claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The RO must provide the Veteran with a copy of his claims file in compliance with FOIA.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for back injury with laminectomies due to new and material evidence received since the last final denial. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA records, private medical opinions, and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied service connection for chronic organic residuals of acute pericarditis is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for transient heart murmur, sinus bradycardia, intolerance to cold, and shortness of breath.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of burns to the eyes and dry eye syndrome due to incomplete examination findings. The Veteran will need an addendum opinion regarding his January 2017 diagnosis of conjunctivitis, which was rendered during the appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to esophageal cancer, finding that it was not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and treatment.

The Board found that the overpayment of additional VA compensation benefits for four grandchildren was properly created and granted a waiver of recovery, as the Veteran did not adopt them and they were not considered his children under VA regulations.

The Veteran's pancreatic cancer was not found to be related to his active service, including exposure at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as moot because a waiver of indebtedness for $24,303.00 was granted by the Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWC), resolving all issues before the Board.