Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of Agent Orange exposure during his military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip trochanteric pain syndrome due to a lack of an aggravation opinion in the June 2020 VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine degenerative disc disease may have aggravated his bilateral hip disabilities, but this needs to be clarified with a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension. The TDIU claim prior to October 13, 2017 is being remanded due to an error in development.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to consider the merits of the case.

The Veteran's brain tumor was not shown to be related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's breast cancer of the left breast is denied as it does not meet the criteria for service connection under any theory of entitlement.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for oral pharyngeal cancer (claimed as larynx cancer) and the cause of death due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant treatment records, including from NHRMC Radiation Oncology and Wilmington ENT, and provide an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hypopharyngeal cancer.

The Veteran's deceased spouse was properly removed from his VA disability compensation award effective March 1, 2012. The appeal is denied.

The Board has found a need to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in the PCAFC eligibility determination, and will reevaluate the Veteran's eligibility under the correct statutory criteria for 'need for supervision, protection, or instruction'.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not require personal care services for a minimum of 6 continuous months based on an inability to perform an ADL and/or a need for supervision, protection or instruction. The decision is being remanded due to inadequate notice and clarification.

The Veteran's benign pulmonary nodules have not been rated appropriately, and the Board has ordered a remand to ensure that his disability is evaluated accurately based on current medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need to provide a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar spine disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility for VA healthcare treatment is remanded due to insufficient evidence and unclear details of the denial.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 5, 2018, for a 100% disability rating for service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder to include alcohol use disorder due to military sexual trauma is denied. The evidence does not show that the increase in disability occurred within one year of the claim.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA compensation benefits was properly created due to the retroactive adjustment in benefits resulting from the divorce and remarriage, and denied the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his right eye central retinal artery occlusion with light perception only is denied. The Board finds that the current 30 percent rating assigned by the AOJ is appropriate, as there are no incapacitating episodes or anatomical loss of an eye.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records from the Mayo Clinic Health System, specifically those related to the Veteran's terminal care in April 2013. The Appellant is asked to provide authorizations for VA to obtain these records.

The appeal for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for cellulitis of the right leg, finding no evidence linking it to service or ionizing radiation exposure.,Service connection was also denied for loss of teeth, with the examiner concluding that the Veteran's current condition is due to periodontal disease rather than any in-service exposure.

The Board has decided that the VA records from the Mattoon VA clinic are incomplete and needs to be associated with the file. The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided on October 26, 2014 is remanded.