Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and his claimed Hairy Cell Leukemia, which may be due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his hyperlipidemia was related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's widow requested assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing for her home, which was ordered to allow the Veteran reasonable access to bathroom facilities while in hospice care. The claim is denied as these benefits are not considered 'periodic monetary benefits' and thus cannot be awarded as accrued benefits.

The Board denied a compensable rating for dermatophytosis prior to October 19, 2015 and granted a 30 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's condition is rated under the criteria for dermatitis or eczema.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have left foot bone spurs, right foot bone spurs, left foot corns, or right foot corns disabilities. These conditions are attributable to already service-connected pes planus, hammer toes, degenerative arthritis, and hallux valgus of the bilateral feet.

The Board has granted service connection for primary hypersomnia and remanded the Veteran's claims of higher ratings for his shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is not a condition presumptively associated with herbicide agent exposure. The Board finds that further clarification of the nature of his condition, specifically whether it is soft-tissue sarcoma or squamous cell carcinoma, is necessary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation of service-connected residuals, puncture wound of the left palm thenar eminence and an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected median nerve injury, left upper limb due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for adenocarcinoma of the left parotid with facial nerve and multiple lymph node involvement was reopened due to new evidence linking it to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found that this condition is likely related to his service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability and an abnormal growth of the left ear, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for DIC and death pension benefits as the Veteran's surviving spouse due to a lack of evidence establishing a valid common law marriage.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion to assess the Veteran's functional impairment due to his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work. The claim is pending further development.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of $9,551.00 in VA pension benefits was valid and denied the Veteran's request for a waiver of this debt due to untimeliness. The case is being remanded to allow for further development including obtaining an updated financial status report from the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left eye disorder, to include as secondary to the service-connected vitreous floater disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient rationale in the medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral foot condition was found to have undergone a permanent increase in severity during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to service, including the in-service grenade explosion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and medical opinion, and for further development including a new VA examination.

The Board found that the overpayment of Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits was due to mitigating circumstances (the appellant's spouse being transferred to another state), which prevented her from continuously pursuing her program of education. As such, the debt was not properly created and is therefore granted.