Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board dismissed the appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left forearm musculocutaneous nerve damage prior to July 5, 2017, and a rating in excess of 60 percent thereafter. The issue of total disability for individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right lower leg disability, left lower leg disability, and motion sickness as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability during or approximate to the pendency of the claims.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 30% disability rating for atrial fibrillation, finding that there was no factual basis to award the benefit prior to March 8, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of specific information regarding the appellant's caregiving expenses and transportation costs. The appellant is asked to provide more detailed information about these expenses.

The Board denied service connection for a colon disability due to herbicide exposure, but remanded the issue of service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Veteran's waiver request for overpayment of VA nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied because it was not filed within the 180-day period allowed by law.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right eye disabilities due to exposure to traumatic explosions in Vietnam. The VA will gather additional evidence and conduct a new examination before deciding these cases.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an intestinal condition and benign neoplasm of the stomach due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The VA examiner was asked to provide a new opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to in-service complaints and treatment, including any medications used.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastric cancer and for the cause of his death, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral eye disorders due to exposure to burn pits during service in Iraq.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for pituitary adenoma and temporomandibular joint dysfunction have been denied. The claim for temporomandibular joint dysfunction was previously denied, and the Veteran has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen it. For pituitary adenoma, there is no evidence showing a link between the condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left-hand disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left little finger condition. However, it denied entitlement to a compensable rating for residuals of the left little finger fracture.

The Veteran's heat exhaustion is rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as her condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on seizure activity.

The Veteran's application for nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to April 23, 2018 was denied due to insufficient evidence showing he meets the income requirements.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cardiovascular disorders, excluding his service-connected HTN, CVA, and TIA, as these conditions are not causally related to his military service or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that they were not secondary to his service-connected HTN.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the necessity of requested home modifications and accommodations. The Veteran's claim will be further developed with a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for atrial fibrillation, implanted cardiac pacemaker, AICD, and cardiomyopathy as these conditions are proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA examination regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's liver disability, including whether it is related to service at Camp Lejeune. The PACT Act requires this examination.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinion provided in November 2021 did not substantially comply with the remand directives and thus requires another examination to determine if there is at least a 50% chance that the Veteran's myelofibrosis is related to his service, including radiation exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for lupus erythematosus related diseases, finding that his disability is directly related to his exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune during active service.