Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection for myasthenia gravis was denied. The Board also remanded the issues of initial rating for degenerative disc disease and TDIU.

The appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability prior to November 24, 2014 is dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The RO is instructed to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for an adequate examination.

The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the merits of the claim can be addressed.

The Veteran's claims for left leg amputation and TDIU have been dismissed without prejudice due to the death of the Veteran. The appeal is being dismissed as it has become moot.

The Board has granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) due to exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange, during the Veteran's service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma with metastasis is granted as service connected due to exposure to contaminated groundwater at Loring Air Force Base during his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing treatment records and insufficient consideration of a direct nexus for pulmonary fibrosis. The Veteran's lay statements indicate potential exposure to environmental hazards while serving in Southwest Asia, but there is uncertainty about when his symptoms began.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cataracts and pinguecula was denied as there is no medical evidence showing that the conditions were aggravated by or made worse during his military service. The claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The bilateral shin splints are rated as noncompensable, right shoulder tendinitis and left shoulder tendinitis are both rated at 20 percent, bilateral plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent, the lumbar spine condition from June 30, 2012 to May 9, 2023 is rated as 20 percent, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated as 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of right and left shin splints for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral shin splints.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the calculation of VA disability compensation and military pay, requiring a review by the RO for adjustments and potential waiver of military pay.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for muscular atrophy, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to link the condition to her active duty.

The Veteran's TMJD was evaluated and found to not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to March 23, 2020, or in excess of 40 percent thereafter. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current symptoms and his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the Appellant's failure to report for duty was due to his diagnosed narcolepsy, and thus not willful misconduct. The appeal is granted as the character of discharge does not bar VA benefits.

The appeal seeking service connection for a nervous condition, including a personality disorder, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of incarceration periods during the appeal period from December 11, 2012 to September 4, 2019. The Veteran's TDIU claim for this period is not yet resolved.

The Veteran's service-connected Alzheimer's disease resulted in total occupational and social impairment, leading to a 100 percent initial evaluation.

The appeal regarding eligibility for benefits under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) has been withdrawn and is dismissed.