Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim of service connection for colon cancer, including as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded. The Board requires a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's colon cancer is related to his military service and specifically to in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's testicular cancer and pancytopenia are related to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition, including potential exposure to chemicals at Fort McClellan.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma multiforme, finding that Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam may have contributed substantially or materially to his diagnosis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bilateral toe fungus is not service-connected and has ordered a new VA examination to determine if it was incurred in or due to her military service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board denied additional VR&E benefits, finding that the Veteran's case was properly discontinued due to achieving Maximum Rehabilitation Gain (MRG) status and not meeting criteria for closure as 'rehabilitated' in accordance with VA regulations.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Veteran's daughter, S.M., is not recognized as a dependent child for VA benefits due to her age and lack of evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support at the time she turned 18.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right arm disability, including forearm injury residuals and lateral epicondylitis must be remanded due to lack of compliance with previous remand instructions regarding scheduling of VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for the validity of a debt due to reduction in VA disability compensation for concurrent receipt of military service drill pay for FYs 2006 through 2010 and 2013 is remanded due to internal inconsistencies in audit results.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in determining an initial evaluation higher than 10 percent for right hip strain and the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a service-connected disability. The Veteran's complaints of his hip coming out of the socket need to be addressed by a VA examiner.

The Board awarded a TDIU effective July 1, 2007. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) vacated and remanded the matter due to an unclear opinion in a March 2016 VA examination report.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 70 percent for specific phobia, fear of heights for the entire period on appeal.,The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is granted a noncompensable rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's service-connected mild thoracic DJD and mild thoracic spine scoliosis resulted in pain, stiffness, and difficulty in movement. The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 2, 2010, a rating in excess of 20 percent from June 2, 2010 to October 15, 2018, and a rating in excess of 40 percent from October 16, 2018.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was previously remanded, but the VA did not comply with both directives. The case is again remanded for an examination to ascertain the collective impact of his service-connected disabilities and for referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic gastritis with helicobacter pylori prior to July 15, 2019 was denied. A 20 percent rating is granted effective from July 15, 2019.