Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for a digestive disorder other than GERD, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the condition and the Veteran's military service or his service-connected GERD with achalasia.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's body and hand tremors, finding that they are related to exposure to chemicals during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service event or disease and that his current conditions are not related to his active service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's right hip disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for clarification and retrospective opinions regarding ankylosis, as well as a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right hip total replacement.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional evidence and an examination of the Veteran's left ruptured distal biceps tendon.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any current skin condition and active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's AML, which is presumed to be related to his service exposure to herbicide agents. The DIC claim is also inextricably intertwined and must be addressed.

The Veteran's claim to reopen entitlement to service connection for esophageal cancer is granted. The Board has also remanded the issue of whether service connection should be established.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew it through his representative.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for osteopenia/osteoporosis of the right hip and impairment of the thigh were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of extension or flexion.

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no final decision can be made on the pension benefits claim.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder and left foot disorder is granted. The claims are remanded due to insufficient bases provided in the February 2023 supplemental statement of the case.

The Veteran's genitourinary disorder, including bilateral epididymal cysts, bilateral varicoceles, and benign prostatic hypertrophy, is not considered to have been incurred during service.,Service connection for B-Cell Lymphoma remains pending as the evidence did not support its onset or relationship to service.

The Board has granted recognition of the Appellant as a helpless child of the Veteran on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence regarding this claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of the anthrax vaccination, claimed as body aches and gastrointestinal problems. The claim is also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder with psychotic features; lumbosacral strain; and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for vision disorder as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II due to an inadequate opinion regarding causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's patella femoral joint syndrome with DJD, right knee was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to November 15, 2016, and a separate 30 percent rating for instability. The total right knee replacement is rated at 60 percent since January 1, 2018.,The Veteran's patella femoral joint syndrome with DJD, left knee was granted a rating of 40 percent prior to December 21, 2017 and a separate 30 percent rating for instability. The Veteran is currently rated at the maximum 30 percent for left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed malaria and related symptoms, including cyclical fevers and mild neutropenia. The Veteran needs to provide private medical records from his former primary care physician and any other relevant sources.

The Veteran's prostate disorder, diagnosed as benign prostatic hypertrophy, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board found no causal relationship between the condition and his military service.