Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Veteran's cancer of the larynx was reduced from a 100% rating to a 30% rating effective September 1, 2009. The reduction was proper as there is no evidence of recurrence or metastasis since then.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on issues of service connection for PTSD and restoration of a discontinued 10% rating for left hip strain. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination for urinary incontinence. The Veteran's urinary incontinence is being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim for bruxism will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board denied service connection for edema of the bilateral lower extremities and onychomycosis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and therefore the presumption of service connection for the cause of death applies. The Veteran died from drowning while on active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for her service-connected alopecia is remanded due to the need for a comprehensive scar examination.

The Veteran's child, M., was removed from his VA disability compensation effective July [REDACTED], 2019 due to attaining the age of 18. The appeal is denied as the Veteran has not submitted a specific claim for additional dependency benefits based on school attendance.

The Veteran's C5/C6 nerve roots at the right and left upper radicular groups were granted initial disability evaluations of 20 percent each, effective prior to March 18, 2010.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg stress fractures and a respiratory disability have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including rescheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's cause of death was granted service connection in a February 2022 rating decision, rendering the current appeal moot.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diverticulitis, which he contends is related to his presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service, has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred from April 11, 2003 to April 14, 2003 at Ohio Health Riverside Methodist Hospital is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and clarification on whether the criteria for payment under 38 U.S.C. �� 1703, 1725, 1728 are met.

The Board has ordered a remand for an additional VA examination to address the Veteran's service-connected disabilities' potential aggravation of his blood clot disability. The examiner must provide opinions on whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to or aggravated his blood clot disorder, and these opinions should be supported by clear rationale.

The Board has granted service connection for urticaria and dermatographism, finding that the evidence is in at least an approximate balance as to whether these conditions are directly related to the Veteran's service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case as they are no longer alive.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to new and material evidence received since the final January 2012 rating decision. The Veteran's rectal cancer is presumed related to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam, but not to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board finds that there is reasonable doubt as to whether the cause of death was directly related to service and grants the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion addressing the Veteran's statements about his left elbow condition during basic training and physical training. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on the etiology of any current left elbow conditions, including their onset during service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for a pain disorder prior to July 8, 2022 and for a total disability rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder is granted with an effective date of February 3, 2013.