Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient examination opinions. The Veteran's left-hand disability, including any nerve disabilities, will need to be further evaluated.

The Board has determined that the character of the appellant's discharge from service does not constitute a bar to VA benefits, but new evidence has been found and requires further review.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left thigh disability, including myositis ossification and a fracture, did not pre-exist service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's right elbow lateral epicondylitis with limitation of extension is rated at a 10 percent disability rating since June 4, 2021.

The Veteran's cause of death was ruled as Hodgkin's lymphoma, a disability for which he is not service-connected.,The appellant does not have any basis to be granted dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) due to the lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, including basal cell carcinoma, is remanded due to the need for an etiology opinion regarding all skin conditions diagnosed during the appeal period and a TERA-specific VA examination and opinion pursuant to the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck impairment, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for esophageal stricture, and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) as they are intertwined. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his neck impairment and esophageal stricture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for post-operative bilateral inguinal hernia and TDIU due to new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has identified several issues to address, including determining if the Appellant is considered a surviving spouse and clarifying her income and medical expenses. The January 2016 decision did not provide sufficient notice on these elements and failed to consider whether she meets the criteria for being a surviving spouse or if her service qualifies as wartime service.

The Veteran's stroke residuals are being remanded for a more thoroughly reasoned addendum opinion that addresses the etiology of her condition and whether it would be less severe without her service-connected PTSD and dysthymia disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his disability ratings for back strain and neck strain, finding that no valid NOD was submitted regarding these issues.

The Veteran's cause of death, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with history of brain tumor, is not service-connected due to lack of in-service onset or exposure. The Board found no evidence supporting the assertion that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing records and a potential error in creating the debt. The Veteran needs to provide additional information about his educational benefits, including his DD-214, notifications, awards, and the February 2020 notification of debt.

The Veteran is seeking payment of tuition and fees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for a specific academic year. The AOJ determined she had no remaining funds after paying $23,671.94 in previous payments. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to incomplete evidence regarding whether Brightwood College-Vista's closure should affect her eligibility.

The Board has determined that the claims for payment or reimbursement of non-VA care provided by AHHS have been resolved in favor of the Veteran, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right parietal glioblastoma, finding that his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam is causally related to his condition.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment provided on August 25, 2018 is being remanded due to the unavailability of his claims file.

The appeal seeking payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services performed on January 13, 2020 by Aegis Sciences Corporation is dismissed as the benefit has been approved.

The Board has granted service connection for thoracic spine compression fracture residuals and remanded the claim of service connection for ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, right eye.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left leg condition and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.