Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's myoglobinuria with rhabdomyolysis has not been manifested by renal dysfunction, and thus a higher rating is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right hand disability and cognitive disorder of memory loss due to in-service injuries. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion on the etiology of the right hand disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left foot disorder and bilateral leg/calf disorders, finding that there was no evidence of chronic conditions since military service or any link to active duty.,There is no indication in the medical records that the Veteran had persistent symptoms related to his claimed conditions during or after military service.

The Veteran's service-connected Other specified trauma-and stressor-related disorder was reduced from a 50% rating to a 30% rating, effective November 1, 2023. The appeal for restoration of the 50% rating is granted, while the appeal for an increased rating remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, finding that it is etiologically related to his military service. The decision does not address any specific exposure basis or presumption.

The Board found the Veteran's request for waiver was timely and remanded for adjudication of the overpayment issue. The case is being remanded again due to a failure by the Committee on Waivers and Compromises to comply with the Board's May 2020 decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for hairy cell leukemia due to potential exposure to herbicides during service, and a VA examination is required to determine if there is a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right eye disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his in-service injury and his current condition.

The Board denied the appellant's request to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits due to her prior marriage to R.D. and lack of knowledge of the legal impediment.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and the claim for medical expense reimbursement is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of all four extremities due to a pre-decisional error in not attempting to develop these claims, including obtaining etiological opinions about whether any of the conditions are secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's hand tremors are related to service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be pancreatic cancer, and the Board found that there is a probability of at least 50 percent that his cancer was related to his presumed herbicide exposure during service. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April [REDACTED], 2018, for additional compensation for his dependents is denied. However, the Board grants a later effective date of May 9, 2020, based on the Veteran notifying VA of his new dependents within one year of his remarriage.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 1, 2018 for a staged 10 percent disability rating for the Veteran's back disability (degenerative thoracic spine disease and scoliosis compression fractures T9-T11). The earliest effective date available is based on the fact that the Veteran had limited, painful motion in April 2018 and September 2018, within a year of his March 29, 2019 claim for an increased disability rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy for decision since VHA overturned its initial denial and approved the non-VA medical care provided by ASC on October 6, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for bruxism as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with anxiety, finding that the Veteran's bruxism is proximately due to his active service and stress and anxiety.

The Veteran's appeal regarding her brother G.T. being removed as her fiduciary was dismissed because he died after the decision on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current bowel disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.