Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions provided by a nurse practitioner and an occupational medicine medical examiner. The Veteran's cecal tubulovillous adenoma, which led to right hemicolectomy, needs to be evaluated by a colorectal surgeon to determine if it is related to service or specifically to presumed exposures at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for right eye cancer in April 2019, and the appeal is dismissed as there remains no case or controversy.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 3, 2019 was denied because he failed to provide financial information and time lost due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for colon cancer, attributing it to the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claim was not granted as there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after service that could be linked to this exposure.

The Veteran's cognitive disability with memory loss and neurological problems is granted as service-connected. The TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for replacement or reissuance of a compensation check dated September 17, 2009 due to the statute of limitations expiring six years after the issuance of the check.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Shea Medical Center due to a lack of prior authorization and because a VA facility was found to be feasibly available.

The Board denied the appellant's request to be substituted for her mother, who was the surviving spouse of the Veteran. The appellant did not meet the criteria for substitution as she was over 23 years old at the time of her mother's death and had not become permanently incapable of self-support prior to age 18.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5261, effective March 3, 2021. The appeal for increased ratings remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma and prostate cancer, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for a higher rating for prostate cancer. The claims are being remanded due to new evidence received after previous decisions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to September 14, 2013 was denied as he was gainfully employed until that date.

The Board denied service connection for colon cancer, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his active duty military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for further adjudication of death benefits.

The claim for service connection of a left foot disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded to determine if it is related to service or secondary to service-connected total knee replacement.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an unidentified right upper extremity condition as secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability, finding that there is no evidence linking the current symptoms to the cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of histoplasmosis, pulmonary nodules and restrictive lung disease, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to her in-service infection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for residuals of a stroke, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The decision also grants service connection for these residuals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hematuria with voiding dysfunction began during service and granted service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for cold weather injury residuals to both feet have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.