Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses rendered at UMass on December 16, 2015 was denied because the claim was received more than 90 days after her discharge from the private facility.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for esophagus injury with residual swallowing condition as new and material evidence was not presented.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate nexus opinions and new evidence, requiring further development of the Veteran's right knee disability claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's heart condition, diagnosed as aneurysm of the ascending thoracic aorta and aortic regurgitation, was not shown to be related to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The Board denied service connection for this disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory condition, including COPD and interstitial lung disease, is not related to his active service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current respiratory disability was incurred or caused by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bladder cancer, presumed caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam, was at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of right triple arthrodesis secondary to a fracture of the right tarsal navicular bones with arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is appropriate based on the evidence showing moderately severe symptoms.

The Veteran's death was caused by a motorcycle accident during active service, but the Board determined that it did not occur in the line of duty and was due to his own misconduct. The appeal for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between arteriosclerosis and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's polycythemia and erythrocytosis did not begin during service or due to any in-service exposure, including herbicide exposure. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for a permanent and total rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma due to conflicting evidence regarding its current status. The issue of basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 35 (DEA) is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination. The appellant's right big toe disorder is being reviewed, but no specific rating or effective date was assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, multiple myeloma, was related to his active service and granted the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for eye conditions, headache condition, nephrolithiasis, dizziness spell, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a direct relationship between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's mesothelioma.

The Veteran's left varicocele, claimed as a left testicle condition, is granted service connection because the evidence shows it was incurred during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as there is no evidence showing he requires regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to have a $300 burial benefit check reissued because it was filed more than one year after the date of issuance, and there is no evidence that the check was returned as undeliverable.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of a lip injury is dismissed. The appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury is granted and remanded for further development.