Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's other specified stressor- or trauma-related disorder, finding that his symptoms are related to his military service and that he meets the criteria for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for T-cell large granular lymphocytic (T-LGL) leukemia on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicide agents. The appeal with respect to bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand two issues: the claim for service connection for residuals of a neck injury and the initial compensable rating for a deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to procedural errors in previous decisions, including failure to provide a Statement of the Case on his original claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum, and issues with the development process for his claim for residuals of a neck injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board finds that there is no new and material evidence to support these claims. The claim for residuals of a facial laceration has been reopened due to new evidence relating to an unestablished fact (the presence of scars). However, the claim for amblyopia with exotropia of the right eye remains denied as there is no new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The claim for neck condition has been reopened due to new evidence suggesting current residuals from a facial laceration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to new evidence received since the last decision, but without a clear determination of whether service connection is warranted or what the appropriate rating should be.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is being held in abeyance until the TDIU claim is resolved. The Board will then consider whether to grant a previous effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic left foot disorder during or within one year after service and no causal relationship between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications of a blood transfusion, specifically Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury (TRALI). The Board found that the VA did not exercise proper care in administering the blood transfusions and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for brain tumors is denied as there is no current diagnosis of brain tumors.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral leg disorder and glioblastoma, both determined to be not related to the Veteran's military service. The appeal was remanded for other issues.

The Veteran's death benefits application was denied because the appellant and the Veteran were not married at the time of the Veteran's death, thus failing to meet the eligibility criteria for survivor death benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos in service and post-service, as well as the relationship between his pleural effusion disability and any asbestos-related disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the bilateral tonsils, including considering potential links to human papillomavirus infection, in-service herbicide agent exposure, or service.

The Veteran's service-connected gynecological disability, bacterial vaginitis, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to DM-II, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during his military service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's right foot disability, effective December 30, 2007. However, the matter of whether an extraschedular TDIU rating is warranted based solely on the right foot disability remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of gastrointestinal symptoms and therefore, service connection for these symptoms is denied. The neurological symptoms are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right leg disability and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date earlier than January 14, 1994 for the grant of service connection for congestive heart failure and cardiomegaly due to lack of evidence of ischemic heart disease prior to death.

The Board has restored service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, effective April 12, 2013. The original grant was severed due to a finding of clear and unmistakable error (CUE), but is now reinstated.