Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for bilateral optic atrophy was reopened and granted, with service connection established based on new evidence showing a link between in-service exposure to diesel exhaust and/or low oxygen levels and the current condition.

The Veteran's right great toe injury was previously rated at 10%, but is now rated at 20% effective from November 13, 2021.

The Veteran's right foot condition has been rated at 10 percent since June 29, 2011. The Board found that the disability is most analogous to a moderate foot injury and denied an increased rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection claim for pancreatic cancer is granted due to presumed exposure at Camp LeJeune. However, his secondary service connection claim for periampullary cancer (claimed as stomach cancer) remains pending and requires additional medical opinions.

The appeal was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding whether a March 2017 substantive appeal was timely received. The case is now remanded for consideration of new evidence related to an earlier effective date for service connection for cause of death.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of this case. The claim is not about service connection, so there's nothing for us to decide.

The Board has determined that the procedural requirements for reducing the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma disability rating were met, but there is evidence suggesting ongoing treatment and residual effects. The reduction was by operation of law under the applicable VA regulations.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which is a bar to VA benefits. The appeal for compensation benefits has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for private treatment records.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome, associated with his service-connected right eye erosion, is now rated at a higher 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal through his representative, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's brain tumor and residuals of partial left front resection, finding that reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claim has been resolved.

The Veteran's cause of death was caused by a cardiac conduction defect, which the Board found to be proximately caused by VA's failure to exercise reasonable care. The appeal for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was untimely filed, and he did not provide good cause for an extension of time.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evaluation of the Veteran's right foot disability and its relationship to VA treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of an apportionment award to his former spouse, finding that the appellee demonstrated financial hardship and the Veteran did not show undue financial hardship. The apportionment was granted in the amount of $156.36 per month from September 1, 2014, to December 1, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the bilateral feet, finding that it is secondary to or residuals of service-connected bilateral bunionectomies.

The Veteran's appeal of the validity of a DEA indebtedness decision in the amount of $1,174 was dismissed because he requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for additional VA disability compensation benefits due to incarceration is denied. The Board found that the amount of compensation benefits withheld was proper and he is not entitled to additional compensation benefits.