Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral cataracts, arcus senilis, conjunctival melanosis, syneresis, retinal drusen, pingueculae, and visual field contractions must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The AOJ is directed to investigate the Veteran's exposure claims for radiation and dust, obtain new VA medical opinions addressing all of his claimed disabilities, and consider whether in-service conditions may have contributed to the development of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records, specifically the full consent document for the prostate cancer surgery. The Veteran needs to provide this document and VA will need to consider if the risk of the event was disclosed appropriately.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ALS was dismissed without prejudice due to his death, and the Board's decision is vacated as it did not have jurisdiction over the appeal after his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of a back injury and residuals of a neck injury, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service parachute jumps, exposure to whole-body vibration, and injuries playing combat football.

The Board denied service connection for esophageal cancer due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to service. However, because the Veteran's atrial fibrillation was a contributory cause of his death, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision on service connection for PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle spasms, finding that they are not related to service and instead linked to a nonservice-connected cervical spine disability.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, currently diagnosed as an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, finding that it is etiologically related to the Veteran's in-service combat experiences. The decision does not include a grant of benefits for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that her irritable colon syndrome did not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding S.B.'s capacity for self-support prior to her 18th birthday and whether there was improvement sufficient to render her capable of self-support after age 18.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of medical opinions and literature in a previous VA opinion. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his military service, including exposure to non-ionizing radiation.

The Board has granted service connection for a stomach disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The matter of TDIU is remanded pending assignment of a disability rating and effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability and calcified granuloma, finding no evidence of asbestos exposure or related lung disease during service.

The Board dismissed the appeal without prejudice due to a withdrawal request from the appellant's authorized representative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability, finding no relationship between his current diagnoses and his service, including exposure to welding fumes.

Service connection for gastric cancer is granted due to the PACT Act presumption of service connection.,Service connection for cause of death (gastric cancer) is granted as it was the immediate cause of death and presumed related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically anaplastic thymic carcinoma. The Appellant contends this cancer was caused by exposure to residual herbicide agents or other chemicals during service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for the residuals of prostatectomy, to include bladder stones, urinary retention, recurrent UTIs, and scar, from December 1, 2018, is denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a waiver of recovery of overpayment of compensation benefits due to incarceration, including whether the overpayment was properly created.