Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and remanded the issue of service connection for peptic ulcers. The denial is based on a lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease related to the current condition, and the opinion that the Veteran's cataracts are more likely due to normal aging.

The appeal for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is dismissed due to the appellant (the Veteran's widow) dying during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disabilities, specifically whether they are secondary to service-connected PTSD medications or related to his service-connected thrombocytopenia. The examiner is requested to provide a clear opinion on causation and aggravation as independent concepts.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left leg length discrepancy, left hip status post femoroplasty limitation of extension, and left hip status post femoroplasty impairment of adduction, abduction, and rotation are being remanded due to the need for updated examinations.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no final decision can be made.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for Barrett's esophagus with hiatal hernia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximate persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation, accompanied by substernal or arm or shoulder pain, productive of considerable impairment of health.

The Veteran's daughter, L.A., requested retroactive payment for expenses of the widow's assisted living facility. The Board denied her claim as she did not pay any additional costs beyond what was already reimbursed.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for left little finger disability was denied, and his claim for bilateral hearing loss disability was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. The Veteran is now entitled to a determination on whether she can establish service connection for her claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA medical opinions and failure to address secondary service connection.

The Veteran's right eye optic neuritis is found to be a result of an event, injury or disease during active service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of any current left foot or lower extremity disability, including a neurologic disability. The Veteran's service records indicate cellulitis in his right fifth toe during boot camp, but there is conflicting medical opinion on whether this was also present in his left foot.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as he failed to submit a VA Form 21-8940 within one year of being requested by VA, and waived any remaining time to do so.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for gastrointestinal and arthritis disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran's symptoms of hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and risk of harming others related to PTSD have also been remanded.

The Veteran's claimed residuals of heart surgery are not shown to be proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The Board finds that there is no additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board has determined that the procedural steps for a contested claim have not been completed, and thus remands the case to ensure full compliance with the procedures.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was reduced from a 40 percent evaluation to a 20 percent evaluation, effective February 4, 2020. The appeal for restoration of the 40 percent evaluation is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's respiratory cancer and its relation to herbicide exposure. The claim will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development and remanded for further action, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.