Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for fatigue and joint and muscle pain due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gallbladder disability and dismissed his TDIU claim from January 12, 2017 to January 25, 2021 due to the presence of additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more.

The claim for accrued benefits is denied as the appellant does not qualify as a child to whom such benefits may be paid and there is no evidence of expenses borne by the appellant.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and therefore he did not meet the criteria for non-service-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by dehydration and pneumonia, with other significant conditions contributing to his death. The Board has decided that service connection for the cause of death should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service injuries and his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's BPH, status post TURP, due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The decision is based on a presumption of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the nose and forehead, finding that it is related to sun exposure during military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for retroactive Combat-Related Special Compensation and Concurrent Receipt of Retired and Disability Pay payments due to his incarceration, not due to concurrent receipt of retired pay.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current fatigue, cardiovascular, neurological, or sleep disabilities for which service connection can be granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran was a fugitive felon and thus, whether the discontinuation of VA compensation benefits from December 27, 2001, until February 7, 2011, was proper.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted, with an effective date of November 1, 2015. The claim for service connection for lumbosacral strain is remanded.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death has been granted, making this issue moot.

The Veteran's claim for total disability due to individual unemployability (TDU) was denied because the evidence did not show he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for colon cancer and sexual dysfunction as secondary to colon cancer due to potential issues with the adequacy of the VA medical opinions provided. The claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's conditions were caused or aggravated by his exposure to toxins during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to evaluate his left hand disabilities. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left ring finger and left long finger are also being addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, including his colon/rectum cancer and lung metastases, was caused by exposures to toxic chemicals during service. Service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left foot calluses, effective May 2, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for neuritis of the external cutaneous nerve and obturator nerve, left lower extremity have been denied as her symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has found that further development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's Buerger's disease, including whether it is related to his service-connected tonsil cancer and exposure to Agent Orange.