Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board dismissed the appeal for TDIU as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and there is no jurisdiction to proceed.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates of service connection for PVD of both lower extremities, finding that the earliest date showing PVD secondary to coronary artery disease (CAD) was August 8, 1997.

The Veteran withdrew his issue regarding the recognition of stepchildren as dependents, so this appeal is dismissed.

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

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to medical reimbursement for non-VA medical services on July 3, 2018 was denied. The Board has determined that the denial was sent to an incorrect address and thus waives the time limit for filing a Notice of Disagreement (NOD). A Statement of Claims (SOC) must be issued.

The Board denied service connection for HIV, finding that the Veteran's current HIV is not related to his in-service rape and considering all relevant evidence including negative HIV screens during service.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to November 30, 2011 was denied as he had no service-connected disabilities at that time.

The Veteran's service connection claim for myasthenia gravis is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the etiology of his condition, including exposure to herbicides and chemical agents during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a chronic right hand disability, finding that the Veteran's fracture during active service caused his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including verifying the Veteran's claimed exposure to carbon tetrachloride in service and obtaining a medical opinion on whether his liver cysts/hemangioma is related to this exposure.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for lacerations left saphenous vein from October 29, 2012 to May 2, 2022. The appeal for an increased rating for the period after May 2, 2022 is denied. The issue of an initial compensable rating for occlusion left posterior tibial artery is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes, based on continuous cohabitation and a deemed valid common law marriage.

The Board has granted service connection for nasal shell fragment wound residuals, finding that the Veteran sustained a wound during combat in Vietnam and resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for scleroderma and residuals of a brain bleed, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for neurological disabilities of the right and left upper extremities, as well as a TBI, have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service and found that his pension benefits were not granted because his income exceeded the applicable maximum annual pension rates (MAPRs).

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

The Board has determined that the appellant may be considered the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes due to her continuous cohabitation and behavior as a married couple, despite common-law marriage not being recognized in California.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability was denied due to failure to report for the scheduled VA examination. The claim for TDIU was also denied as there is no evidence showing that his service-connected PTSD alone makes him unemployable.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided was inadequate and remands for additional opinions to address whether the Veteran experienced an additional disability caused by his February 2017 hernia surgery, if so, whether it was proximately caused or aggravated due to VA's carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault.