Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding current thoracolumbar spine diagnoses, including whether Klippel-Feil syndrome is a congenital defect or acquired disease. The examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent sebaceous cysts. The issue of service connection for pyoderma gangrenosum and hidradenitis is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's dental disorder is related to service, specifically an assault resulting in a skull fracture. The VA examiner was unable to verify if there was any dental injury during service and needs further clarification from the Veteran's lay history.

The Board has determined that the RO did not substantially comply with prior remand directives regarding obtaining VA employment and pay records from September 2010 to March 2011, which are necessary for determining entitlement to an extension beyond the initial six-month period of a temporary total rating due to convalescence following surgery in March 2010. The matter is therefore being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for additional VA educational assistance benefits is remanded due to an inaccurate calculation of VEAP benefits used during his law school enrollment from 1988 to 1993. The AOJ must provide a clear accounting and associate it with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA is required to obtain updated treatment records and schedule a new examination to assess the severity of his left first metatarsal disability. Additionally, he must be provided notice on how to substantiate a claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral cataracts are not related to his active duty service, but may be caused or aggravated by his diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding this issue.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for colon cancer, due to presumed exposure to radiation during his military service, is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and opinion regarding service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral knee and hip conditions. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed to determine if her current conditions were caused or aggravated by active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left lower extremity disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to the appellant's period of active duty training from August 1979 to November 1979. The appellant contends that his current disabilities stem from complaints of leg cramps and swelling during this period.

The Board dismissed the appeal for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Survivor's Pension, and Accrued Benefits due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pension benefits in the amount of $71,053.44 is remanded due to disputes regarding the validity and calculation of the debt.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted, but the effective date is set to September 9, 2015.,The Veteran's previous claim for PTSD was denied in April 1988 and not reopened until September 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected right fifth metacarpal fracture is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA and private treatment records. The case may also be referred for extraschedular consideration based on the impact of the condition on employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and development of evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's left hip disability has been granted a rating of 20 percent since May 16, 2022 for limitation of flexion and a 10 percent rating since that date for impairment. The claim for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded, and the Board requests additional evidence to determine if his salivary gland cancer was related to herbicide exposure or ionizing radiation. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's lung disability and its relation to service, specifically exposure to environmental pollutants during his naval service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma due to asbestos exposure, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between her current condition and her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development due to the need for deck logs of the USS Kitty Hawk and a VA addendum opinion. The claims file will be reviewed, and an addendum opinion will provide a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's respiratory disorder is causally related to or aggravated by his military service.