Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection due to a discharge under other than honorable conditions, finding that his acceptance of an undesirable discharge was not due to insanity but rather as a method of behavior.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the Veteran's left ovarian cyst, finding that her symptoms did not require continuous treatment and she was already receiving a 30% disability rating for her hysterectomy and right oophorectomy.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin rash, but denied his claim for deviated septum. The skin rash is considered to be at least as likely related to military service, while the deviated septum is not.

The Veteran's death was covered by service-connected burial benefits, which awarded $2,000. The appellant is seeking additional burial benefits to cover funeral and burial expenses exceeding the maximum amount of $2,000. The appeal for more than $2,000 in burial benefits is denied.

The Veteran's HSP resulted in characteristic attacks more than once a day, lasting an average of more than two hours each and responding poorly to treatment. This condition was granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective May 31, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's urinary tract disability, including a new VA examination to assess its current severity. The issues include determining if the reduction in his service-connected urothelial carcinoma rating was proper and whether he should receive continued SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent for postherpetic neuralgia of the left upper extremity is granted. The case is remanded due to inadequate range of motion findings in a previous VA examination.

The Board has granted the claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that there was no intent to desert and that any separation did not break the requirement of continuous cohabitation.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for panic disorder, insomnia, and fatigue.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for cerebellar ataxia (also claimed as stiff person syndrome) due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a lung disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic lung disorder in-service and concluding that the onset of the Veteran’s lung disorder is less likely related to his time in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left hand arthritis. The VA needs to obtain relevant in-service and post-service medical records, including hospital records from Fort Lewis, and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on whether the arthritis is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues with a VA aid and attendance examination for the Veteran's spouse. The claim will be reconsidered after the necessary medical evaluation is completed.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA examination to address informed consent and disclosure of risks, as well as whether additional disabilities are related to the surgery. The issue will be readjudicated after this is completed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for restless leg syndrome of both legs, as well as sleep impairment, due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran will need VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for palmar fibroma of the right hand and Dupuytren’s contracture of the left hand were denied as there was no evidence of limitation of motion or painful motion that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that she did not meet the legal criteria to establish status as a deceased Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of VA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right rib cage disorder, a nerve disorder (claimed as radiating body pain), and presyncope syndrome (claimed as visual disturbances and dizziness) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his claim, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional information regarding whether the Veteran served in the territorial sea of Vietnam, which could affect his claim for service connection for cause of death. The decision is pending further development.