Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma, finding that it is related to his in-service exposure to liver fluke parasites.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error regarding the calculation of his remaining Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The Board requests an accounting and audit for the period from August 20, 2018 to October 31, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the apportionment of their VA compensation benefits was dismissed because they did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within 60 days of receiving notification of the April 2019 decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's income was below the National Means Test due to medical expenses, and thus the change in his means test eligibility category from copay exempt to copay required for income year 2017 was improper. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's challenge to the creation and denial of his overpayment debt, finding that he failed to meet both prongs of the sole administrative error analysis. The overpayment was deemed properly created due to the Veteran's failure to notify VA of his receipt of DFAS drill pay.

The Board has remanded the claim for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's skin disabilities, including xerosis and rashes, are related to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for calluses on the left foot (claimed as a left foot ulcer) due to insufficient medical evidence addressing whether there are exposed areas affected by the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's rectal cancer and its relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout on a direct basis and hair loss are denied. The claim for service connection for gout as secondary to service-connected hypertension is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hair loss and her military service. A new VA examination is required.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes due to lack of evidence showing loss of substance of the maxilla or mandible from trauma, and thus not meeting eligibility criteria for VA compensation.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hand disability and that his reported hand pain is not related to service. The claim for service connection for bilateral hand pain is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for retained metallic fragments in the right cornea is being remanded due to inadequate opinions from the same physician and failure to consider favorable evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than January 9, 2017 for service connection of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) due to a clear and unmistakable error. The claim was reopened on January 9, 2017 based on new evidence showing a diagnosis of CLL.

The Veteran's unexplained bruising and flaky skin in the ears were denied as not meeting the criteria for service connection due to lack of a qualifying chronic disability under VA regulations.,Both conditions are considered direct service connection cases, meaning they must be linked to active duty service without any presumption or secondary condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA and non-VA treatment records, specifically from Eye Center Janeway Tower Baptist Hospital. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye injury or condition is now pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, but finds that further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for liver disorder, respiratory disorder, abdominal disability, and skin disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to a pre-decision duty to assist error. The issue will be adjudicated in the first instance by the AOJ.