Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cognitive disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her low back disability and service connection for a bladder disorder, as these issues are inextricably intertwined with her claim for an increased rating. The VA must obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a new examination to assess the severity of her low back disability and associated neurological abnormalities.

The Board has granted service connection for left flat foot as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected stress fractures, bilateral feet and hallux valgus. The decision is based on evidence showing that the left flat foot condition was caused by these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left fifth finger disabilities due to a lack of a new VA examination. The case is being returned to the RO for further action, including obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity swelling and pain are granted as incurred on active duty service. The Board also found that the Veteran's right shoulder condition is related to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to its potential connection with a service connection claim for a blood disorder. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered after the blood disorder claim is resolved.

The overpayment of additional VA compensation benefits for a dependent spouse in the amount of $2,263.56 was properly created and the appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further factual development regarding whether the Veteran served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during his active service.

The Veteran's claims for esophageal and stomach cancer are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding in-service herbicide exposure. The Board will ask the Veteran to provide details of his alleged exposure, verify it through VA procedures, or document if sufficient information is not provided.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected colon cancer, which is presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's esophageal cancer is also presumed to be due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam and has been granted for substitution purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected mandible jaw fracture with loss of teeth is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin rash, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service. The appeal was reopened due to new and material evidence submitted within one year of the December 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's lung disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 21, 2010 and has not met the criteria for a higher rating since then.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a generalized arthritis disorder due to unresolved medical questions regarding its onset and relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's varicose veins were caused by his service-connected right knee chondromalacia patella, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam. The appellant argues that the Veteran’s death was caused by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which she claims was a result of exposure to herbicide agents including Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating and earlier effective date for service-connected duodenal ulcer disease has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for waiver of overpayment due to concurrent payment of Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA) Chapter 35 education benefits is remanded as the validity of the debt must be determined first.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right tympanic membrane perforation is reopened, and the appeal is granted. The Board finds that new and material evidence has been presented since the August 1971 rating decision.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death, finding that there is no evidence linking any service-connected disability to the Veteran's death.