Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for vocal cord paralysis status post thyroidectomy has been dismissed due to her death.

The appeal for payment of non-VA medical care provided on December 16, 2020, has been resolved by administrative action. The claim was administratively approved and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's ulcers/stomach pain are related to his service-connected PTSD and medications used for it.

The appeals for payment of the cost of non-VA anesthesia services provided on October 14, 2020, have been dismissed as the administrative actions approving entitlement to partial payment are considered a full grant of the benefits sought.

The appeal concerning reimbursement for non-VA services provided to the Veteran has been resolved by administrative action, and thus is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's service discharge does not constitute a bar to receiving VA benefits due to compelling circumstances mitigating his misconduct.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disability, finding that the Veteran's current skin condition did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his bilateral eye disabilities and entitlement to TDIU due to insufficient development of evidence, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the severity of his conditions and employment information. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for chronic vitritis and birdshot chorioretinopathy, which are currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, is now rated at 70 percent from March 26, 2009 to February 10, 2011. The effective date for this rating is set as of March 26, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and private podiatry records. The issues of increased ratings for left foot cold injury and right foot cold injury, as well as TDIU prior to October 17, 2017, are being addressed.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) before September 21, 2017 is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his employment status and medical records from the period prior to 2017. The Board needs to obtain updated information about his last date of employment and any relevant private medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for neurobehavioral efforts, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his active service and the condition. The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been denied as she was able to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment throughout the period on appeal, despite her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current right-hand disorder is related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with notification for a VA examination and requires further evaluation of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot conditions due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements about in-service injuries.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for breast cancer due to a lack of sufficient medical nexus opinion, and thus requires a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for laryngeal papillomatosis, finding that the Veteran's condition is causally related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The decision resolves all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected inguinal hernia residuals and scar associated with the hernia repair were denied. The Board found that there was no current hernia requiring support from a belt or truss, and that the Veteran's scar disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA regulations.

Your TDIU claim has been granted, effective October 1, 2017. The appeal is dismissed as the relief sought has already been granted.