Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, right hip strain/pain and pelvic pain, and cervical pain/strain were dismissed. The appeal for left hip strain/pain and pelvic pain was readjudicated due to new evidence submitted after the April 2018 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death from malignant neoplasm of esophagus was at least as likely as not caused by his exposure to herbicides during service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Appellant. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's two painful scars of the left buttock are rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective January 31, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition and TDIU due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The VA must seek additional medical records related to the neck condition, obtain an opinion on its etiology, and provide a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran is unable to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected alternating exotropia is being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for residuals of median nerve injury of the right wrist prior to April 23, 2022, was denied as there is no evidence of moderate incomplete paralysis.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for residuals of median nerve injury of the right wrist from April 23, 2022, forward was also denied as there is no evidence of severe incomplete paralysis.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a sinus condition due to incomplete compliance with previous instructions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a throat condition, upper and lower gastrointestinal condition (also claimed as a digestive condition), and dismissed his appeal for service connection for a sinus condition.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of April 19, 2014 for the award of service connection on a direct basis for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Veteran presented medical opinions linking his condition to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for TMJ syndrome secondary to his service-connected bruxism was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew from appeal prior to a decision being made.

The VA granted service connection for nerve damage to the right long finger, which resolved the veteran's appeal.

The Board denied service connection for essential thrombocytosis, concluding that the evidence did not support a finding of onset during service or causation related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma on a direct basis and assigned an effective date of December 31, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cause of death and his exposure to herbicides during service, which is necessary for a determination on service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion in the original decision, and a new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's left elbow disabilities, specifically limitation of flexion and extension from March 9, 2013, and limitation of supination and pronation from June 21, 2021, are now rated at 40 percent each.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for further clarification of his diagnosis. The case is being returned for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion from a cardiologist regarding the Veteran's service-connected heart disease and associated scar. The AOJ must obtain this opinion.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for patellofemoral syndrome with meniscal tear and patellar tendon rupture of the right knee, as the evidence did not show ankylosis or other disabling conditions that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Fabry disease, finding clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by active duty.