Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's death was attributed to large cell lymphoma. The Appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death, claiming exposure to herbicides in Thailand. However, the Board finds it unclear whether the Veteran's duties placed him on or near the perimeter of the Takhli Air Force Base in Thailand during his deployment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Reiter's syndrome, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for his peptic ulcer prior to November 25, 2012, and from November 25, 2012, to February 18, 2018. The appeal is also remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion addressing the ameliorative effects of medication on his peptic ulcer symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip replacements due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of his hip disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a medical opinion and request relevant private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a rash on both hands due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on lack of documented findings in service records. A new medical opinion is required to determine if the Veteran's current reactive dermatitis is related to a claimed grease burn during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a sinus disorder, finding that the Veteran's current sinus problems are related to his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 70 percent prior to September 10, 2021, and denied for a higher rating thereafter.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a blood disorder is granted as new and material evidence has been received. However, the current condition does not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a diagnosed disability.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is necessary due to the inadequacy of previous opinions and requests for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to a lack of clarity in a medical opinion regarding compensation under 38 U.S.C. ¶¶ 1151.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability rating for the right long finger disability from November 4, 2019, finding that it more nearly approximated favorable ankylosis in the right (major) thumb, index, ring, and little fingers due to severe pain, stiffness, and weakness.

The Veteran's spouse, B.E., did not have any claims pending at the time of her death and was not entitled to any benefits which were due and unpaid. Therefore, there are no accrued benefits from which reimbursement for the expense of last sickness can be paid.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and inadequate opinions in prior VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for meralgia paresthetica, right and left lower extremities due to obesity associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability. The evidence does not support a finding of a current diagnosis of meralgia paresthetica.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including pulmonary fibrosis. The decision affirms that the current diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis is related to the Veteran's military service, despite conflicting opinions from VA examiners.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure and concluding that his condition is not related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied because he does not meet the criteria for a single service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling or TDIU predicated solely on one service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, as his combined rating is less than the threshold for TDIU and there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of allegations of errors in the determination.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot disorder, finding that the current condition is not related to any in-service injury or disease and did not clearly pre-exist service.