Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver soft tissue carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) as a result of herbicide exposure due to incomplete medical records and insufficient VA etiology opinions. The case is being sent back for further development, including obtaining additional relevant records and seeking an independent medical expert opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of multiple joints. The VA examiner must consider the statements of the Veteran, Dr. R., and R.B. regarding exposure to toxins and other chemicals in service and physical labor during service.

The Veteran's death was determined to be due to his service-connected rectal cancer, which the Board found likely caused by exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The cause of death was septic shock with multi-organ failure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for abdominal condition claimed as stomach problems was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection for ventral hernia is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence regarding Raynaud's syndrome and a lack of adequate consideration of the Veteran's statements about his symptoms. The Veteran is also required to provide authorization for VA to obtain treatment records from Allina Health.

The Veteran's right arm bone loss is related to his service-connected right elbow disability, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from Riverside Rehab and Nursing Home. The Veteran's VA treatment records for March 2022 onwards are also requested.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding a clothing allowance for 2005, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's gallbladder disability is etiologically related to service, including exposure to radiation. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's gout, right hand arthritis, and left hand arthritis are granted service connection. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right elbow arthritis and left elbow arthritis remain unresolved.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left upper extremity neurological disabilities. The issues of service connection for a skin disability, right lower extremity neurological disability, and left lower extremity neurological disability are remanded.

The Veteran's pleural plaques disability is being remanded for a more contemporaneous examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of dystonia musculorum deformans, as secondary to her service-connected right and left shoulder disabilities. The case is being returned for an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including missing service treatment records and National Guard records. The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral flatfeet condition is alleged to have been aggravated by his military service.

The Board has granted recognition of the Appellant as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to VA death benefits.

The Veteran's countable household income exceeded the applicable maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for SMP benefits since January 1, 2011.,The appellant-widow has filed a Notice of Disagreement regarding her claim for survivor's SMP benefits (i.e., death pension), but no Statement of the Case has been issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma, finding that there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service and noting that smoking tobacco use is a known risk factor for this type of cancer.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right mandible fracture and loss of teeth was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to April 1, 2014, or since April 1, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service in the Missouri Army National Guard qualifies for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits, and eligibility is granted.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for cystic fibrosis, including related conditions, has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.