Other conditions decisions — 2020

The appeal for accrued benefits is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current eye disability, specifically vitreous floaters, is related to his service-connected traumatic brain injury. The VA needs to obtain additional medical records and provide a new opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's lichen planus is granted as secondary to her service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Board found that the use of medications for GERD can exacerbate the skin condition, and given the lack of definitive etiology, the benefit sought on appeal is granted.

The Veteran's tongue squamous cell carcinoma is granted as due to herbicide exposure during service. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 29, 2019 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for coronary artery disease status post coronary artery bypass graft surgery is remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for the cause of his death and DIC benefits has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, including hyperkeratotic lesions and lentigo, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to severe sunburns sustained during his active duty in Iraq.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a left foot fibular sesamoid injury, finding that her current disability is related to her active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for throat cancer, including tongue squamous cell, finding that his current condition is related to in-service exposure to herbicides and asbestos.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to missing documents that may establish the appellant's eligibility for burial benefits on behalf of her mother, who paid for her father's funeral expenses.

The Board granted the appellant's request to substitute as claimant for the Veteran's pending appeal, based on her timely filing of a VA Form 21-0847 and payment of expenses related to the Veteran's last sickness and burial. The decision is not about service connection.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for pelvic pain and voiding dysfunction, finding no evidence of VA error causing the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's cause of death, colon cancer, was determined to be due to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on this presumption.

The Veteran's costochondritis is rated at a noncompensable rating, and the Board has granted an initial 10 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of chronic bilateral otitis externa (claimed as bilateral ear sores) and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by congestive heart failure, which is service-connected based on the evidence of record. The Board found that the cause of death was related to his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's cause of death, sepsis and neuroendocrine lung tumor, was not linked to his military service or any service-connected disabilities. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to increased ratings for residuals of a right elbow fracture and right median sensory loss of the right hand. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to a probable pulmonary embolus, not related to service or any service-connected condition. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for anal fistulas, which she believes were caused by VA's failure to properly diagnose and treat rectal damage. The Board has determined that the current medical opinion is inadequate and requires a remand for further examination.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's seventh cranial nerve paralysis/degeneration, finding that there was not evidence of complete paralysis and thus no basis to grant an increased rating.