Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for service connection of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the level of radiation exposure and its relation to the condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for varicose veins, right lower extremity. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right lower extremity varicose veins are related to his service-connected left lower extremity varicose veins or pre-existed service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal before a decision was made.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and needs further examinations to determine the severity of the Veteran's stroke residuals, including aphasia and aphagia.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and therefore he did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's cause of death was related to his active service. The appellant must provide authorization for VA to obtain medical records from North Shore Hospital.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity pain and numbness were granted in a September 2018 rating decision, but the appeal was dismissed as moot because the Veteran did not file a notice of disagreement within one year of the grant.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder, finding that his poor sleep is a symptom of his already service-connected major depressive disorder and does not constitute a separate disability.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left leg disability and entitlement to a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's post-gastrectomy syndrome and status post vagotomy with pyloroplasty, hiatal hernia, and biliary gastritis for the entire appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to address the Veteran's right eye disability and whether new and material evidence supports reopening his claim of service connection for a left eye disability. The Veteran is also advised that he needs to file a Substantive Appeal if he wishes to continue pursuing these claims.

The Board has determined that a new medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for breast cancer, as the previous opinions did not adequately consider her exposure history and relevant medical literature.

The Veteran's lung disability, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis and a blood clotting disorder affecting the lungs, is found to be at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected hairy cell leukemia.

The Veteran's heart disability, including CAD, CHF, and cardiomyopathy, is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. His hypertension is also granted as service-connected based on presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding whether the overpayment of VA pension benefits in the original amount of $12,594 was properly created and whether the Veteran is entitled to a waiver of recovery of that overpayment.

The Board denied reopening of a claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no new and material evidence to support the claim. The appellant argued that pancreatic cancer was due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents and/or asbestos, but the Board found this evidence insufficient to reopen the claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a skin disorder and sleep disorder, leading to the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's loss of teeth, including whether it is related to service exposure or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of right (dominant) hand injury prior to January 19, 2016, and for a compensable disability rating thereafter.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no one has filed for substitution.