Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a respiratory disorder and skin rash, bilateral forearms have been dismissed.,Claims seeking an effective date earlier than May 31, 2004 for the award of service connection and the assignment of a 10 percent rating for cervical spine disability are denied as they lack legal merit. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating to 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the cervical (cervical spine disability) is also denied.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to March 6, 2019 resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. Beginning March 6, 2019, his PTSD symptoms caused no more than occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, warranting a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's occipital nerve injury residuals are currently rated as non-compensable, with symptoms described as mild dull pain and occasional mild paresthesias. The Board found that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left shin splints are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's testicular cancer and service, particularly his in-service exposures. The case will be returned for an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture of the right fourth and fifth fingers have been assigned a non-compensable evaluation. The evidence does not support an increase in disability rating.

The Veteran's left hand disability, associated with synovial sarcoma, is currently rated at 20 percent prior to December 16, 2019. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death due to Alzheimer's Disease and squamous cell carcinoma, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional information from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's cause of death is being remanded for a VA medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of his underlying causes, including whether they are related to service or herbicide exposure. The appeal will be considered on its merits if the medical opinion can be provided.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hip disorder and left hip disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service, and to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether his anemia is related to his lymphocytic lymphoma or its treatment.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective June 20, 2015. The right hand tendonitis disability was rated at 10% from August 7, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current chronic respiratory condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic gastric carcinoma, was presumptively related to his service in Southwest Asia and the PACT Act exposure presumption.

The Board has granted service connection for a gynecological disability, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's condition had its onset during active duty service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for his service-connected fronto-parietal subdural hematoma was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation prior to February 14, 2022.,For the period from February 14, 2022, forward, the Veteran's symptoms of imbalance and short-stepped antalgic gait were evaluated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 6204. The Board found that this was the maximum evaluation available for his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to December 16, 2016. The Veteran's SSA records need to be associated with the case file.

The Board has granted the Appellant's claim to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that continuous cohabitation occurred until his death.