Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cystitis, ovarian cyst, HPV infection, salpingitis, and pharyngitis have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability or objective indications of chronic disability associated with these conditions.,VA examiners provided negative nexus opinions, indicating that the Veteran did not have any diagnosed disabilities related to her service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected Crohn's disease (claimed as colitis) due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity and frequency of his disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 1, 2009 has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his substantive appeal by his attorney.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for post 9/11 GI benefits, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's claim for Special Monthly Compensation based on Aid and Attendance from June 18, 2015 is granted due to his need for assistance with food preparation, bathing (due to poor balance), medication management, and dressing when an adapter is unavailable. The VA determined that he was in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 14, 2016, for the award of service connection for narcotic induced colonic inertia and large intestine resection with residuals is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 24, 2017, for the award of service connection for scar, abdomen is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder, as there is no evidence showing that his current condition is related to his military service or exposure to asbestos. The Board found conflicting medical opinions and concluded that the Veteran's lung disorder is not due to his in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion regarding the preexistence and aggravation of bilateral keratoconus during service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for VR&E benefits to pursue a Master Dog Training Certificate program through National K9 Learning Center, enabling him to obtain and maintain suitable employment with Allegiant K9, Inc. The owner of Allegiant K9, Inc. expressed intent to hire the Veteran as a K-9 trainer upon completion of the training.

The Board has decided that another remand is necessary to complete the requested evidentiary development, including obtaining SSA earning records and educational/employment history information from the Appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases for bilateral eye disability, right lower extremity post phlebitic syndrome, left lower extremity post phlebitic syndrome, and termination of separate ratings for right and left foot disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development regarding whether service connection on a direct basis is required for the Veteran's follicular small cell lymphoma, which was granted based on presumptive exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for reentrance into a VR&E program and retroactive induction for education expenses, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not necessitate further training or employment assistance.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's gastrointestinal disabilities and his service. The case will be reviewed by an examiner to provide a more detailed opinion on this issue.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeal for the issues of gallbladder and pancreas disabilities, effectively dismissing them.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA death pension benefits was due to sole administrative error by VA, and thus not valid. As a result, the claim for waiver of recovery of this overpayment is moot.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation and occluded grafts are not considered to be due to VA care, specifically the May 2003 coronary artery bypass graft surgery and subsequent stress test. The Board found that the August 2018 VA examiner's opinion was most probative in this case.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's abdominal hernia, and a new medical opinion is needed.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of HIV due to a motion to voluntarily dismiss filed by the Veteran's representative, which was consistent with another pending case before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.