Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pains or a disability affecting multiple joints, finding that there was no evidence of such conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's current symptoms are attributed to overuse and age.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's metastatic adenocarcinoma (from the esophageal junction) was directly linked to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's cavus feet were found to be aggravated by his service, but the claim for service connection is granted. The other issues related to cavus feet are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and because a new theory of entitlement was raised by the Veteran's representative. The claim is now being reviewed with additional medical opinion on the nature and etiology of the pain in the joints, including especially in the neck, back, and legs.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of his chronic myofascial pain syndrome as secondary to his TMJ disability due to insufficient competent medical evidence and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has vacated the dismissal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disorder, finding that his claim was erroneously dismissed due to his opting into the Appeals Modernization Act system. The Board denied service connection as there is no evidence linking the current conditions to service.

The Board has not fully complied with previous remand directives and thus the case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's right hip disabilities, specifically limitation of extension, flexion, and abduction, have been granted initial ratings of 10%, 40%, and 20% respectively for the periods from January 1, 2012 to July 13, 2016, and from November 1, 2016 to the present.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right elbow disability, finding that there was no credible evidence of an in-service injury to the elbow and concluding that any current right elbow disability is not related to service.

The Veteran's bruxism and sleep disorder are granted as service-connected. However, the Veteran needs to be evaluated for his sleep disorder due to a potential secondary relationship with his service-connected nasal fracture.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic allergies and has remanded the TDIU issue due to insufficient information regarding her employment history.

The Board denied accrued benefits in excess of $695 as the appellant did not file a timely notice of disagreement and her claim was filed more than one year after the death of the surviving spouse.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's panic disorder, a psychiatric disability, is service-connected as it originated during active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to exposure to burn pits during active duty in Iraq. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is dismissed as a result.

The Veteran's death was caused by cardio respiratory arrest, with breast cancer as the underlying cause. The appellant contends that her breast cancer is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service. However, a VA medical opinion obtained in November 2015 found no presumptive association due to lack of information regarding risk factors for breast cancer. The Board finds this opinion inadequate and remands the case for further development including obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased rating, earlier effective date, reduction in rating of peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and effective date of reduction due to the appellant's request to withdraw her appeal.

The Veteran's T12 compression fracture is rated at 40 percent effective January 11, 2022. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient compliance with previous directives, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's left hip disorder is rated at 20 percent, effective prior to January 22, 2019. The right hip disorder is also rated at 20 percent since March 1, 2020.