Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incongruity in the opinion regarding the Veteran's Chiari I malformation and is requesting additional clarification.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with communication and address verification, specifically regarding unreimbursed medical expenses for the appellant's mother (E.H.). The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify the appellant's current mailing address and send all outstanding documents. They are also asked to request information on any unreimbursed medical expenses E.H. incurred as a result of paying for her own nursing home care.

The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's right foot nerve paresis has not been shown to manifest with complete paralysis at any point over the period on appeal. The current rating of 20 percent is appropriate as it reflects moderate incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's appeal to add his grandson as a dependent for VA compensation purposes was denied because the grandson is not legally adopted and therefore does not meet the legal definition of 'child' for dependency compensation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed cardiovascular disabilities, specifically atrial fibrillation and peripheral vascular disease. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active-duty service, including his conceded Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating and an earlier effective date for adenocarcinoma of the rectum have been dismissed.

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection issues are being decided.

The Veteran's cause of death was granted service connection with an effective date of December 8, 2020. The decision is based on new evidence received after the July 2014 denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination, and a new one is needed to determine if the Veteran's right hand disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal of his disability rating for pleural plaques was dismissed as he attempted to challenge an implementing rating decision rather than the underlying Board decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, may be related to herbicide exposure during service. However, due to a lack of medical opinion on this issue, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's costochondritis is rated at 10 percent since March 27, 2020. The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a chronic bilateral foot disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spondylosis of L-5 is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may support a link between his current condition and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for acute lymphocytic leukemia due to insufficient evidence in the VA opinions and a need for an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for acute lymphocytic leukemia due to insufficient evidence in the VA opinions and a need for an addendum opinion from a qualified clinician.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for persistent complex bereavement disorder was granted effective January 6, 2020. The Board determined that the September 18, 2015 rating decision became final due to the Veteran not filing a timely Notice of Disagreement and VA determining that the evidence received within one year of this decision was not new and material. As a result, an effective date of September 18, 2015 is granted for the grant of service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity scar above the kneecap, left knee disability, right knee disability, right knee scar, and residuals of a TBI. The claims are being remanded for further development regarding bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding causation of the Veteran's right arm disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for cause of death and burial death benefits as they have already been granted in a previous rating decision.