Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and a need for another VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's spine condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the opinions provided regarding whether the Veteran's spine condition is related to service. The claim will be reviewed for updated treatment records and an addendum opinion from a qualified health care professional.

The Board denied service connection for a malignant brain tumor due to exposure to herbicide agents, finding that the evidence did not support a link between Agent Orange exposure and glioblastoma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a gynecological disability, bilateral pes planus, and right hip disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete examination reports.

The Veteran's death was not connected to his service, and therefore he did not meet the eligibility criteria for burial benefits. The claims were denied as there are no legal bases to award the requested benefits.

The Veteran's claim for medical reimbursement at Helen Keller Hospital on July 9, 2015 is remanded due to missing relevant documents. The AOJ must associate all relevant records with the electronic claims file and attempt to reconstruct the record if necessary.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin disability, dermatophytosis secondary to fungal infections, finding that the Veteran's current condition began during active service and resolving all doubt in his favor.

The Board has granted service connection for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or Southwest Asia service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for bladder disorder and prostate disorder was granted. The appeal regarding PTSD, lung cancer from July 1, 2015, scars related to lung cancer, COPD, and other service connection issues were remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's thymoma and his in-service exposure to Agent White. The examiner's opinion is inadequate as it does not consider the lack of presumptive service connection for thymoma.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service obligation for transferring Chapter 33 benefits was completed, and this matter is being remanded.

The Board has found that additional development is required to clarify the Appellant's income and medical expenses in order to determine if she meets the income-eligibility requirements for survivor pension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by his heart conditions, including coronary artery disease (CAD), which were related to his exposure to herbicides during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence to corroborate the Veteran's claim that his stroke and its residuals are related to his service exposure to herbicides. The Veteran needs a VA examination and an opinion regarding this issue.

The Veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure, is denied as not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.

The Veteran's spouse, S., was recognized as his dependent for VA purposes from August 1, 2017 to the date of this decision. The Board granted this recognition based on the submission of a divorce decree that terminated the Veteran's marriage to C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pulmonary disability is related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a hiatal hernia, finding that there is no current diagnosis of this condition and thus cannot grant service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with a previous remand order and needs an addendum medical opinion from a VA Otolaryngologist regarding the etiology of the Veteran's equilibrium disorder (BPPV).