Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board denied service connection for an eye disorder, diagnosed as bilateral age-related nuclear cataracts, finding that the current disability was not incurred in or related to military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder and muscle atrophy and weakness (claimed as weakness / muscle loss of the left side of the body), both to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities now include posttraumatic headaches, cervical degenerative arthritis, neck scars, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the neck was denied because no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the final denial.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to deficiencies in the evidence and need for additional medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including private treatment records from VistA, and provide additional VA clinical evaluations on the severity of the appellant's left knee and right ankle disabilities as well as the etiology of his neurological symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's enlarged heart is related to service or service-connected conditions. The issue of service connection for an enlarged heart will be reconsidered with a focus on whether it is caused by hypertension.

The Veteran's nasal polyps, colon polyps, and bladder condition (including urinary incontinence) are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his service, particularly his exposure to burn pits during deployments. The PACT Act provides a presumption of exposure to particulate matter from burn pits for Southwest Asia Theater of operations, including Afghanistan.

The Veteran's current stomach disorder, to include constipation, was aggravated in active service. The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for her gastrointestinal disability, including diverticulitis and colon polyps, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and her in-service treatment or her service-connected PTSD. The Board also found that her current condition was not related to an in-service abortion procedure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent right hand and left foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the claim for service connection for anemia before a decision was made by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's tremor disability and his military service, specifically his exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his condition is related to his service.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, diagnosed during service and characterized by symptoms such as mood disturbances and paranoia, is directly related to his in-service personality disorders. The appeal was granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's polyps and digestive disability claims. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for a chronic digestive disability other than IBS, as there is no current disability found by VA examiners. Polyp removal is also not supported by sufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus or if it was related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's varicose veins and his active-duty service. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for intestinal disorder has been dismissed due to his withdrawal request.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases in the previous decision, specifically regarding whether the Veteran experienced incapacitating episodes related to his service-connected left eye injury.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for left hand burns, right hand burns, face burns, a right ear skin condition, foot conditions (bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis), hypertension, right foot frost bite, right hand fracture, and lumbar degenerative disc disease. The remand requires additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left lower extremity lymphedema disabilities are granted at a 100 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's bilateral foot fungus is currently rated at 10 percent effective February 18, 2009. The Board has found that the condition covers at least 5% of his total body area and grants a 10 percent evaluation for this period. However, the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent is remanded due to incomplete records.