Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's claimed dental disability, including the asserted loss of tooth numbers 8 and 9, from an appropriate clinician. The claim will be readjudicated after any necessary development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a muscle disability, which includes carnitine palmityl transference, type II deficiency/mitochondrial disease, is granted with an effective date of April 25, 2018. The Board found that the claim was received within one year after the filing of VA Form 21-0966 and thus considered it filed as of the intent to file a claim date.

The Veteran's prostate disorder, which includes prostatitis and urethral stricture status-post urethroplasty, is rated at a 60 percent since September 26, 2016. The Board also granted the Veteran TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's leukocyte disorder is not service-connected, as the Board finds that his condition was caused by his own non-compliance with prescribed medication regimens and not due to VA care or treatment.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatitis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to her in-service hospitalization and pain during active duty.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred on March 25, 2013, at Robinson Memorial Hospital due to the Veteran's condition being of such a nature that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information about the Veteran's employment status and whether it constitutes a protected work environment. The Veteran needs to provide additional details for further consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his May 2018 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed due to lack of good cause, despite being over one year after the July 2014 rating decision. The Veteran argued for extenuating circumstances related to his wife's mother's illness, but this was deemed insufficient.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted, effective January 31, 2012. The Board also remanded the issue of separate ratings for multiple nerve disabilities in his right lower extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected orthodontic malocclusion due to lack of substantial compliance with previous directives and failure to notify the Veteran about the scheduled examination.

The Veteran's spouse, W., was added to her VA disability compensation award as a dependent effective November 29, 2017. The appeal is granted with an effective date of that day.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lung disorder and its relationship to her service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinion is insufficient and remanded for a new opinion to determine if negligent VA treatment caused additional disability, including metastases of esophageal cancer.

The Veteran's colon cancer is granted as service-connected due to presumed herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has decided that the VA apportionment decision is not in order and has ordered a remand to correct procedural issues.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the need for an adequate VA examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is not eligible for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). The decision was based on a May 2011 review by the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT), which found that the Veteran does not meet the eligibility requirements. The Board has now remanded this issue to allow for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disability does not meet the threshold requirement of being rated at least 70% disabling, thus denying basic eligibility for PCAFC benefits.

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

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder and insomnia are rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is not appropriate due to the severity of his symptoms.