Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has vacated the part of the November 2021 decision granting service connection for residuals of adenocarcinoma, left parotid gland. The right parotid gland cancer is granted with service connection based on exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has granted the appellant's recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes, considering her continuous cohabitation with the Veteran and crediting her statement that she was unaware of his prior marriage.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for colon cancer, carcinoma of the lymphatic system with lymph node removal, and vision loss due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran will need VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The case is being remanded due to the need for further examination and development of evidence related to the Veteran's left knee conditions, including range-of-motion testing and flare-ups. The issues of increased ratings for left knee flexion and extension are also being remanded.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal prior to the Board's decision being issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of left inguinal hernia likely began during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's right foot disability was previously rated at 30 percent, but a 40 percent rating is granted beginning September 14, 2021. Special monthly compensation for loss of use of the right foot is also granted starting from that date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evaluation of his right hand wound and skin condition, as well as for a determination on his TDIU claim prior to November 23, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed eye disability, specifically whether it is related to his service or caused by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the procedural steps for a contested claim have not been completed, and thus this matter is being remanded to ensure compliance with all specialized procedures. The appellant (and the Veteran if he desires) should be afforded a DRO hearing at the AOJ.

The Veteran's bilateral shin splints were granted a 20 percent rating from September 30, 2015 onward. Prior to that date, the ratings remained at 10 percent for both right and left shin splints.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection decision is made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the January 2022 VA examination opinion, which dismissed the Veteran's lay statements as not medical fact. The Veteran's right leg condition is now being reviewed with a new examiner.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision impairment of the left eye, finding no current disability and rejecting the secondary service connection theory.

The Veteran's residuals of a fractured left patella are granted as they began during service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's cause of death may be related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service, but further medical evaluation is needed to determine this relationship.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his thoracic spine disability is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and bipolar disorder, has been reopened due to new evidence. However, the claim is denied as there is no credible evidence linking his current schizoaffective disorder to his military service.