Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding the Veteran's exposure to asbestos and Agent Orange, as well as verification of his alleged exposure to herbicides aboard naval ships.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left thumb disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected schizoaffective disorder, rated at 70 percent disabling since February 20, 2015, has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from February 20, 2015 to March 3, 2020. The appeal is granted for this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral eye conditions and his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left supraorbital neuralgia, finding that it is due to an incident in which he was struck by a hatch on an armored personnel carrier during military service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the pendency of these appeals.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for benefits related to spina bifida and birth defects, as she does not meet the criteria for these benefits.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the change in means test eligibility category from copay exempt to copay required for income year 2011. The Board has dismissed this appeal as a result.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for thrombosis phlebitis disability, finding that it is proximately due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for hammer toe, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his active duty service or any other etiological relationship.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his psychiatric disorder, and determining whether he qualifies for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bladder disability may be related to service, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right lung schwannoma, finding that it was incurred during his military service.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no final decision can be made.

The Board has granted Level III benefits for spina bifida since July 12, 2018. Prior to this date, the appellant used braces or other external support as his primary means of mobility in the community.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records from Dr. J., a VA provider who treated the Veteran on a fee-basis, and for obtaining additional evidence from other providers.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the recoupment of his separation pay by withholding VA disability compensation benefits is remanded due to a lack of proof that the 2007 waiver was rescinded. The Board requests a copy of the April 30, 2008 memorandum clarifying the policy intent.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right elbow disability, but remanded it for further development due to the need for an examination. The issue of whether the right elbow disability is secondary to his service-connected ulnar nerve entrapment remains pending.

The Board is remanding the case due to incomplete records and failure to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran needs to provide VA Form 21-4142 for Dr. Anuradha Puri, and a complete audit of payment should be prepared.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued NSC death pension benefits greater than $2,591.00 due to a lack of evidence showing that she bore additional expenses for her mother-in-law's last sickness and burial.