Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's adjustment disorder, finding that it is related to his active duty service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is needed.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral conjunctival injection with left eye nasal pinguecula has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran through his attorney.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as the reduction of his VA disability compensation benefits due to felony incarceration was proper.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for onychomycosis and ptosis, bilateral eyes, residual of bilateral upper eyelid chalazia. The Board finds that no such effective date can be assigned prior to June 26, 2017.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is denied as he was employed at the time his last date of employment.

The Board denied the appeal as to whether a reduction in VA compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of active service pay and military drill pay was valid, finding that the reduction was proper based on VA's actions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for loss of the maxillary bone is granted. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a left ear disability, claimed as secondary to his service-connected maxillary bone loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for entitlement to Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as the issue was granted in a previous rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including dry eye syndrome and post-LASIK corneal deformity, is not service-connected as it was a usual effect of medical treatment in service rather than an injury or disease incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's death was caused by gastric carcinoma, which the Board found to be related to his exposure to herbicide agents in service. As a result, DIC benefits are granted.

The Board denied service connection for a rash, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left eye pseudomonas corneal ulcer, finding that there is no persuasive evidence of its onset during her period of active duty training from February 2010 to July 15, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in the Puerto Rico Air National Guard and/or United States Air Force Reserve, specifically in 1987 and 1989. The AOJ is instructed to verify this service and determine if it qualifies as active duty or ACDUTRA. Additionally, the AOJ should obtain any outstanding VA medical records and associate the Veteran's Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bladder disorder and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The case is being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a thorough and contemporaneous medical examination to determine if there is additional disability associated with the May 2014 VA pneumococcal vaccination.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of hidradenitis suppurativa with scars, claimed as boils.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's essential thrombocythemia, which is being considered as new and material evidence. The arthritis claim remains under review.

The Board has granted service connection for a heart disability, specifically CAD, CHF, atrial fibrillation, heart block, stable angina, and status post myocardial infarction with aortic valve replacement. The Veteran's bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (PN) issues have also been addressed, with some ratings being granted or denied based on the date of September 8, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected Crohn's disease is remanded due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination and additional private treatment records. The matter of entitlement to TDIU prior to February 21, 2018, remains on hold.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his other specified trauma and stressor related disorder was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment required for a disability rating of 100 percent.