Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disabilities and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions. The claims for secondary hand disabilities are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Board has granted service connection for Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a qualifying chronic disability under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, due to its presentation as an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness (MUCMI).

The appeal for DEA benefits is being remanded due to the lack of relevant records in the educational appeal file. The RO must update the file with necessary documents and return the case to the Board for further review.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a respiratory disability has been remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to address the Veteran's in-service hospitalization.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's military service does not entitle him to VA benefits due to a bad conduct discharge, but his character of discharge was upgraded by the NDRB to general under honorable conditions. As this upgrade sets aside any bar to benefits imposed under paragraph (d), the Appellant is now considered a veteran for purposes of receiving VA benefits.

The Board has denied service connection for an enlarged spleen and an enlarged liver, both claimed as due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure during his Vietnam-era service.

The Board has granted service connection for a skin condition, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's skin condition began during active service and resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Board found that the termination of the apportionment of the Veteran's VA benefits to the appellant on behalf of three minor children was proper, as she did not demonstrate financial hardship and the Veteran reasonably discharged his responsibility for their support.

The Veteran's right thumb disability was previously rated at noncompensable (0%) and later granted a 10% rating effective February 10, 2018. The claim for an increased rating prior to June 20, 2023 is denied.,The Veteran's right thumb disability has been rated at 20% since June 20, 2023. The claim for an increased rating from that date forward is denied.

The Veteran's back disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent, and service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also granted. The TDIU claim prior to November 1, 2010, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right upper extremity nerve condition and its relationship to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and requires further development to obtain an adequate addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for adding his spouse 'D' as a dependent, finding that VA did not have evidence reasonably supporting a valid marriage prior to March 22, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting chest pain syndrome worsened during service.

The Veteran's right foot fracture residuals are rated at 20 percent, effective March 13, 2012. The Board also granted a TDIU from that date.

The Veteran's appeal for additional dependency pay for his school-aged child, K.C., after January 6, 2016 is denied because K.C. began receiving Chapter 35 education benefits on that date and the law prohibits payment of both dependency compensation based on educational assistance under 38 C.F.R. § 3.667 and educational assistance under Chapter 35 for the same child.

The Board has determined that the matter is not ripe for appellate review due to incomplete procedural steps. The Veteran and appellant need to provide financial information, child support details, and a copy of the appellant's June 2020 substantive appeal.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is granted a 100% rating from April 11, 2017 to May 26, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and lack of adequate rationale in the opinions provided. The Veteran's diverticulitis is being reviewed again for proper service connection determination.

The Veteran is granted service connection for residuals of cold injury (sensitivity) of the left hand, with a current diagnosis and credible history of exposure to cold weather injuries during active duty.