Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's right eye blindness and whether it was caused by VA carelessness, negligence or similar instance of fault. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for additional development regarding the Veteran's income and net worth as of June 15, 2018. The Veteran is required to provide updated information on his family's financial status.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for basal cell carcinoma, including exposure to herbicides. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant is not eligible to pursue DIC or survivor pension benefits. The claim for accrued benefits is also denied as no outstanding benefits were owed at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's former spouse, the appellant, is not recognized as his surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to DIC benefits and death pension benefits due to their divorce at the time of the Veteran's death. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's skin conditions (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma) are not presumed to be related to his service exposure to herbicide agents. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin conditions and his in-service exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an SOC, as the August 2018 rating decision was issued in the legacy system and requires further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion and because no VA examiner has provided an opinion on whether the Veteran's neck condition is related to his military service. The case will be returned for further examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it before a decision was made.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a pilonidal cyst status-post excision with residual tenderness was denied. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were also denied, as well as the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's oropharyngeal cancer was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period; continuity of symptomatology is not established, and the cancer is attributable to intercurrent causes. The Board finds that the evidence does not support service connection for oropharyngeal cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and missing Vet Center records. The Veteran's lay reports of ongoing psychiatric symptoms since service are considered, but need further clarification in a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right lower extremity neurological disabilities due to an inadequate addendum opinion from a VA examiner. The Veteran contends his symptoms began in service, but the examiner's opinion was based on inaccurate factual premises.

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete claims file and a need to determine if VA was solely responsible for the overpayment. The Appellant's request for waiver of recovery will be transferred to the appropriate AOJ after these issues are resolved.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a new VA medical examination to address the severity of the Veteran's SLE and whether she had exacerbations prior to March 18, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected fractured left-hand little finger and its neurological residuals are granted with a separate 10% rating, while the initial compensable rating for the fracture itself is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for angiokeratoma of Fordeyce was denied from August 1, 2011 to May 30, 2019. From May 31, 2019 onwards, the Veteran is now rated at 10 percent for this condition.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that the Veteran's death was not in the line of duty and due to his own willful misconduct.