Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current adjustment disorder is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck condition and headaches as secondary to right knee PCL/ACL/MCL reconstruction with instability due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's VA examination needs to be rescheduled closer to his home.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's competency to handle his VA benefits payments needs to be reassessed due to a duty to assist error. The case is being sent back for a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an undiagnosed stomach disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether this condition is related to service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for post prostatectomy adenocarcinoma of the prostate was denied as his condition has been in remission and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as due to ionizing radiation, based on a balance of positive and negative evidence regarding participation in Operation Dominic.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because they died during the pendency of their case, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to proceed with the merits.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's colon cancer, presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure during service, was a primary cause of his death.

The Board found that the overpayment of VRAP benefits was valid and denied the Veteran's request for a waiver due to it being untimely filed.

The Board has decided that a remand is needed to evaluate the Veteran's hypertensive vascular disease due to its worsening, and to ensure all relevant records are obtained.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous carcinoma of the tonsil, claimed as oropharynx cancer, finding that it did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The decision also noted conflicting opinions regarding whether exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam may have contributed to the development of the condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and a need for an addendum opinion from an oncologist.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue is not service-connected, as it was not caused by or related to his military service. The claim for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as metastatic adenocarcinoma, which the Board finds may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case is remanded for a VA opinion on whether the diabetes contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board has granted increased disability ratings of 40 percent for Guillain-Barre Syndrome of the right musculospiral, ulnar, and median nerves and 30 percent for Guillain-Barre Syndrome of the left musculospiral, ulnar, and median nerves.

The Board previously granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death in a May 11, 2020 decision. As this grant constitutes a full award of the benefits sought on appeal, there is no remaining case or controversy as to this issue.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteochondritis dissecans of the left and right elbows were denied. However, a compensable initial disability rating was granted for limitation of extension after May 28, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability was denied because he failed to report for the scheduled VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, finding that the condition is etiologically related to the Veteran's military service.