Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board denied the veteran's claim for VA home loan guaranty benefits because he did not meet the minimum active-duty service requirement of 24 months.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and other benefits, including TDIU, which were denied in a June 2017 rating decision. The appellant is eligible for attorney fees based on these past-due benefits.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is found to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to confusion over prospective versus retroactive adjustments made to the Veteran's award, and further clarification is needed regarding the FY years 2008 and 2011-2015.

The Veteran's claims for left hip and right hip total hip replacements are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. The Board finds that the previous denials were not based on an adequate consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected lacerated right fifth flexor tendon with surgical repair.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of stroke, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has determined that the AOJ decisions on appeal are not of record and have not provided adequate notice as required by law. The claims for payment of non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on February 12, 2020 and February 18, 2020 are being remanded for further action.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiomyopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected asthma/COPD and hypertension with left bundle branch block.

The Board has determined that the AOJ committed a pre-decisional error by failing to reconstruct and associate relevant documents with the electronic record. The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is remanded due to missing documentation.

The Board has determined that the AOJ decisions regarding reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on December 3, 2019 and December 9, 2019 are not available. The AOJ is instructed to provide complete notice of these decisions adhering to the content requirements of 38 U.S.C. § 5104.

The Board denied the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, finding that the Veteran's death was not caused by or proximately due to VA medical treatment and there was no fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vocal cord paralysis, including as due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, is being remanded for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for left eye aphakia, status post cataract removal is remanded due to the need to obtain an unavailable non-VA optometry treatment record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his pilonidal cyst and esophageal cancer. The examiner is asked to provide a detailed opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service, with particular attention given to the May 1990 Zumwalt report.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and his heart disorder. The appellant is asked to provide medical records, and an expert opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's heart condition.

The Board has decided that the change in the Veteran's means test eligibility category from copay exempt to copay required for income year 2016 was not proper and has remanded the matter for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertrichosis is rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it affects less than 5% of exposed body area and total body area.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of Agent Orange exposure and dental trauma. The claim for residuals of Agent Orange exposure was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted, while the claim for dental trauma was denied due to a lack of current disability or in-service injury.