Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right eye disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran underwent photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) during service, which may have contributed to his current dry eye symptoms.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were previously discontinued due to her request. She has since indicated willingness to participate, but the Board finds she does not have an employment handicap and is therefore not in need of rehabilitation.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have nonallopathic lesions of the pelvic/hip area or somatic dysfunction of the lower extremities, and has remanded for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The appeal is dismissed because the appellant died before a decision could be made, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate her death benefits claim.

The Veteran's Bell's palsy is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it was incurred in service, specifically related to his exposure to the herpes simplex virus (HSV) during service.

The Veteran's skin disability, dizziness (including BPPV), and fatigue are all remanded for further evaluation.,Service connection will be granted if the evidence demonstrates that a current disability resulted from an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that there was no continuous cohabitation from the date of marriage to the date of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral varices (claimed as left testicular condition) is being remanded due to insufficient detail in the medical evidence. Additional examination and opinion are needed to determine the current severity of the condition, whether voiding dysfunction is related to the varices, and if erectile dysfunction is caused or aggravated by PTSD or varices.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action regarding apportionment of VA benefits to the Appellant and on behalf of D.P. The parties are requested to provide updated financial information, documentation, and evidence as needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to unsuccessful attempts to contact the Veteran for a VA examination. The examiner is instructed to assess whether the Veteran meets the requirements for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being permanently housebound.

The Board denied service connection for deep sweats, finding that the Veteran's condition did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise related to service. The evidence showed no treatment or complaints of deep sweats during service, and current night sweats are attributed to obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of December 30, 1999, for the award of service connection for right rectus abdominis muscle atrophy (abdominal muscle disability) is granted. The issue of whether entitlement to service connection for an abdominal muscle disability should take effect prior to December 30, 1999 must be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left foot arthritis has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for nonservice-connected pension from December 1, 2011 to December 31, 2012 is dismissed as moot because she was already receiving the maximum applicable pension rate.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior directives and additional development is required. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU has also been raised.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of AML due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, finding that there was no causal link between the Veteran's AML and his Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease with painful limited motion of the right index finger and right long finger is rated at 10 percent prior to June 24, 2013. The rating remains at 10 percent for both fingers from that date forward.

The Veteran did not have active service during a period of war, and therefore is ineligible for nonservice-connected pension benefits. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Thailand.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst condition is currently rated as noncompensable. The VA examiner found the condition to be asymptomatic and not causing any functional impairment or scarring.