Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board granted service connection for Tourette's syndrome, finding that the condition was diagnosed during the Veteran’s military service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant.

The Veteran's esophageal and liver cancers are related to herbicide agent exposure during service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse due to lack of clear and convincing evidence that they had a common law marriage under Oklahoma law.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a bladder condition, to include as due to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, due to inadequate medical opinions regarding causation and aggravation.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date than August 3, 2023, for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus and arteriosclerotic heart disease.

The Board denied service connection for a precancerous mass of the lower intestines, as there is no evidence that it was incurred or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's condition is considered a structural condition with a known etiology and not related to exposures in Southwest Asia theatre of operations.

The Board granted service connection for esophageal cancer, finding that the Veteran's condition is causally related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability based on service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for temporomandibular joint dysfunction with bruxism, finding that the Veteran's condition manifested as painful motion and limited range of motion without additional functional loss.

The Board denied the claims for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits, and remanded the claim for a higher initial rating for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hair loss, left eye degeneration, and right eye degeneration have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current disability in any of these conditions.,Specifically, the Veteran was not shown to have a current diagnosis of hearing loss or tinnitus as defined by VA regulations.

The Board remands the matter to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error by obtaining missing VR&E documents from the Veteran's initial evaluation.

The appeal for service connection and compensation for the right hip, left hip, and chronic constipation has been withdrawn by the veteran.

The Veteran's spouse died during the appeal process for accrued benefits and readjudication of the cause of death claim. The appellant did not file a request for substitution within one year, leading to the dismissal of both appeals.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding reductions to ratings for right hip strain, limitation of flexion and extension, as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Board denied an earlier effective date prior to July 14, 2011 for service connection for reactive airway disease and a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the claim for accrued benefits as there were no pending claims or benefits owed to the Veteran at the time of his death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as it does not have jurisdiction to review disputes arising under Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs) due to specific statutory and regulatory provisions.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.