Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an independent medical opinion from a non-VA affiliated expert regarding the etiology of the Veteran's brain tumor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for mesothelioma and skin disability due to herbicide exposure, as there is new evidence received since the last decision. A VA examination is needed for the skin disability claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing documentation related to the annual clothing allowance for the 2016 calendar year. The AOJ is instructed to reconstruct the record and upload all relevant documents.

The Board has ordered the AOJ to reconstruct and upload all documentation related to the Veteran's claims for clothing allowance for the years 2013 and 2014, as these records are missing from the electronic file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision disabilities, including nuclear sclerosis, macular drusen, cornea degeneration arcus senilis, hordeolum internum and cataracts, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an ulnar nerve disability and denied service connection for the residuals of pericarditis. The ulnar nerve disability is due to a repetitive use injury during active duty for training (ACDUTRA). Service connection was not established for the residuals of pericarditis as there is no evidence that it occurred during ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to the current flexion limitations. The claim for service connection of residuals from a right foot fracture is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to April 3, 2015, for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for basic eligibility due to lack of a permanent total service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disability of the face, back, and legs arose during or as a result of his active service. The claim for this condition is therefore granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing documentation related to the clothing allowance claim. The AOJ is instructed to reconstruct and upload all relevant records.

The Board has denied service connection for testicular cancer, loss of creative organ, and infertility. Service connection for depression was also denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it before a decision was made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of arterial sclerotic disease, including partial brain aneurysm, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left thumb disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition or residuals from an in-service injury.

The Veteran's attorney requested to withdraw the appeal due to past-due benefits awarded in an August 2019 rating decision, and the Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's effective date for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder, depressive type is set to September 3, 2014 due to his successful request to change the character of his discharge from a general discharge to a prior discharge.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his mood disorder has been dismissed because he withdrew his Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's spouse was added as a dependent effective November 27, 2005 (the date of their marriage), and the AOJ corrected this to be effective October 18, 2019. The Veteran appealed for an earlier effective date but since the claim has already been granted with the correct effective date, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his assertions of herbicide agent exposure and secondary conditions. The VA must verify the Veteran’s claimed in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim as all withholdings from his VA compensation payments for an apportionment and incarceration debt were proper, thus denying any retroactive payment.