Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and verifying exposure to herbicide agents. The issues include determining whether esophageal cancer and lymphoma of the right supraclavicular area are related to service.

The Veteran's breast cancer is granted service connection under the PACT Act due to exposure to burn pits during her service in Kuwait. Her direct service connection claim for breast cancer remains pending.

The Board has found that the Veteran was in receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits from September 17, 2001 until his death. However, additional evidence is needed to verify income, net worth, and the Veteran's need for aid and attendance between August 12, 2015 and August 12, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral eye condition and lumbar DDD/IVDS as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine whether the claimed conditions are part-and-parcel of her service-connected left eye disability or if they have a separate etiology. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion on direct and secondary theories of service connection, and ensure that the Veteran's flare-ups are considered in any new examination for lumbar DDD/IVDS.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance prior to January 8, 2020 have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's cause of death was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which the Board found not service-connected. The claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases in its decision, requiring further development including consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot conditions, finding that these conditions are proximately due to his service-connected left leg disability.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's allergic conjunctivitis and bilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's laryngeal cancer, a disease presumed to be associated with exposure to herbicide agents, is granted for accrued benefits purposes. The cause of the Veteran's death due to aspiration pneumonia resulting from cardiac arrest and laryngeal cancer is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's venous insufficiency, including whether it is related to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation or secondary to service-connected non-malignant thyroid nodules with hypothyroidism or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board cannot proceed with the merits of the claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an updated examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right elbow condition was aggravated during his OCS training.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected eye disabilities is remanded due to the need for another VA examination by an ophthalmologist.

The Board denied service connection for metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and the cause of death due to metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. The Veteran's cancer was not related to his military service, including exposure to asbestos or radiation.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical services provided by a non-VA facility is remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records. The VHA must attempt to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records, including those from the James Haley VA Medical Center and Brooksville VA Clinic.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right leg shin splints due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior decision. The VA is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the shin splints are related to service, specifically his total hip replacements and bilateral knee strains.