Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his pulmonary edema and heart failure to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, so he is not eligible for nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear VA examination and inadequate discussion of an extra-schedular rating for keratoconus. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it depends on the increased rating claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for lung disorder due to asbestos exposure, finding that there is no current evidence of asbestosis related lung disease and concluding that the Veteran's condition is less likely caused by in-service event or exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a disability manifested by muscle and joint pain, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his military service, including exposure to environmental hazards during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded several issues including PTSD rating, joint pain, sleep apnea secondary to PTSD, gastrointestinal disability, respiratory disability, and lip papules.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claim of entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell cancer of the throat, finding no evidence linking it to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to leukemia, finding that it is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing medical records and a need for an opinion on whether the Veteran's breast cancer is related to his service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents. The claim will be reviewed again with additional evidence.

The overpayment of VA compensation benefits was created due to a retroactive reduction in the compensation rate for incarceration, and the appeal is denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's HIV may have preexisted his service from January 2012 to March 2012, and they need further clarification on whether this period was active duty or ACDUTRA. They also require an addendum opinion from an infectious disease expert regarding the etiology of the Veteran's HIV.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40% disability rating for myofascial syndrome is denied. The appeal to overturn the reduction of the disability rating from 40% to 10% in July 1992 due to CUE (clear and unmistakable error) is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung disorder and TDIU claim due to outstanding VA treatment records and an additional VA medical opinion is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment due to incarceration for a felony, finding that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's gum disease and tooth decay, resulting in the removal of his teeth, are not considered a condition recognized for service connection purposes.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew it, seeking an earlier effective date for dependency benefits for his spouse.

The Board denied service connection for Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding no evidence of a current disability and noting that the Veteran was not seeking service connection for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not receive accrued benefits for arteriosclerotic heart disease. The claim for death benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a left pinky finger disability as the evidence did not show it was related to an in-service injury or disease.