Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Board has denied service connection for diastasis recti and hernia, finding that these conditions did not have their onset during service and are not causally related to any disease or injury incurred in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right foot, left foot, and right hand cold injury residual disabilities. The earliest medical evidence indicating entitlement to these conditions was from an examination on January 18, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cause of death (esophageal cancer) and his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in service.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as nightmare disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is causally linked to his reported in-service experiences. The decision also grants service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not provide substantial compliance with previous remand directives and requires further development, including toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) development under 38 U.S.C. § 1168.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that his current skin conditions did not manifest during or within one year after active duty and are not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's abdominal pain and bloody stools are found to be secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder, not otherwise specified, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. His left knee, right knee, bilateral eye, and respiratory disorders have been denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for insomnia disorder is granted as the evidence shows that his symptoms began in service and are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hair loss condition began during his active service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for an allergy disorder and a liver disorder due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum, status post septorhinoplasty, from February 2, 2022 and thereafter. The maximum schedular rating of 10 percent has already been granted.

The Veteran's right distal bicep tendon repair (dominant) is rated at 40 percent since September 2014, the date of injury. The rating is based on severe muscle injury affecting elbow supination and flexion, which interferes with work requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized muscle pain and generalized joint pain, which are considered undiagnosed illnesses associated with the Veteran's Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective medical opinion to determine the severity of the Veteran's right hip disorder without considering the ameliorative effects of medication, as per court holdings in Jones v. Shinseki and Ingram v. Collins.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's reported residuals of in-service infection, including weakness throughout his body, fatigue, difficulty standing, back pain, and shortness of breath with cramping.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral elbow and hand/finger disorders due to inadequate notice of VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of an eye disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete toxic exposure development and a need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for meningioma.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's varicose veins are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability, including as due to his original surgery for his right ankle.

The appeal for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is dismissed as the claim was fully granted in a January 2026 rating decision.