Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for vocal cord leukoplakia with dysplasia and residual hoarseness as a throat condition for purposes of accrued benefits, finding that the Veteran's post-service throat disability was not related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion discussing her service-connected peritoneal adhesive disease and its impact on her ability to work.

The effective date for the multiple grants of service connection in June 2017 is denied as it should be September 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded this case for an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, including orbital fracture, concussion, hypoplastic right maxillary sinus, and TMJ dysfunction. The addendum opinion should consider the significance of CT scan findings from prior examinations.

The Board has determined that additional evidence should be obtained before the claims for a compensable rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome prior to August 4, 2021, and for a rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral dry eye syndrome from August 4, 2021, are decided. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence obtained since the October 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran is required to respond to the SSOC before the case can be returned to the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, diagnosed as actinic keratosis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for joint pain and sinus condition due to insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's assertions of in-service onset and continuity of symptoms are not addressed.

The Veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits at a rate greater than 80 percent is denied as he did not serve more than 30 months of active duty and was discharged from active duty due to completion of required service, not a service-connected disability.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for hiatal hernia and nervous condition, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims. The Veteran's arguments were not considered sufficient to reopen the cases.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the Veteran's right eye disability worsening and his history of blindness in his left eye. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right eye disability, including any related issues like dizziness and falling.

The Veteran's dizziness is already considered in the rating for his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). Therefore, he cannot be granted separate service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for esophageal cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between the condition and the Veteran's military service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for bilateral pes cavus, effective June 15, 2023. The Veteran's disability is rated under the general provisions of DC 5278.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, which is a prerequisite to her entitlement to VA death benefits. The decision also noted that if she remarries in the future, she may be eligible again.

The Board denied the Veteran's challenges to the propriety of his overpayment creation and his claim for a waiver of the recoupment of his overpayment debt, finding that neither the RO nor DMC had sole administrative error in creating the overpayment. The Veteran was deemed responsible for the overpayment due to his incarceration.

The Veteran's skin disability, including cellulitis and tropical ulcers (jungle rot), is remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral upper extremity essential tremors, finding that the Veteran's symptoms have been continuous since service and resolving reasonable doubt in their favor.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear calculation of overpayment and potential administrative error in concurrent receipt of DEA and Chapter 35 benefits. The Veteran's appeal is related to whether the removal of his child from his VA compensation award was proper.