Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for vitamin D deficiency, finding that it had its onset in service and causing impairment in earning capacity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for testicular cancer, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer and did not have a direct link to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the appellant's left side non-obstructive nephrolithiasis, to include ureterolithiasis, effective February 6, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claim for Achilles' tendonitis and Haglund deformity of the left heel due to a challenge by the Veteran regarding the competency of the May 2023 VA examiner. The AOJ is required to provide educational and professional background information in compliance with Francway v. Wilkie, 940 F.3d 1304 (2019).

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as other specified trauma/stressor related disorder, is granted due to the balance of positive and negative evidence in his favor. The Board finds that his combat-related experiences in Iraq are credible and supports a diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of an earlier effective date for payment of additional dependency compensation for K.V. and S.V.

The Veteran's challenges to overpayments based on his fifth tour of active duty and UTAs during FYs 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 were granted. The AOJ was found to have improperly calculated these amounts, resulting in overcharges that are now corrected with remittances.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's disability of the left hand, including left hand strain and tendonitis, began during active service and is therefore granted as service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right great toe disability, finding no current diagnosis of such condition and noting that any pre-existing injury was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral edema right lower extremity as there is no evidence to support a link between the condition and service, including in-service complaints of varicose veins and edema. The VA examiners found no correlation with any incident during service.

The Veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities were granted a rating of 40 percent, but no higher, prior to November 27, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin condition claimed as hyperkeratosis and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for an eye condition and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Appellant's request for an extension of her DEA benefits delimiting date beyond October 13, 2017, finding that she did not meet the criteria for suspension of education due to financial obligations or other circumstances beyond her control.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left inferior pubic ramus stress fracture and whether it includes ankylosis of the hip or impairment that is the functional equivalent of ankylosis of the hip.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient analysis regarding the severity of the Veteran's uterine fibroids disability and whether a referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted. The Veteran needs to be evaluated by VA to determine the current severity of her condition, and any relevant medical records should be obtained.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is inadequate to decide this claim and requires an addendum opinion addressing all of the Veteran's contentions with adequate rationale.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for right foot gout.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a respiratory condition has been dismissed without prejudice due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, presumed to be caused by his in-service exposure to Agent Orange, was found to be the principal cause of his death. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for dental condition is reopened, and the appeal is remanded on all other issues. Additional records are needed to determine eligibility for VA outpatient dental treatment and to assess the severity of his heart disability.