Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's service in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) does not count towards the six years of total service required for loan guaranty eligibility, thus denying his claim for VA home loan guaranty benefits.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from the Navy was dishonorable and constituted a statutory bar to VA benefits, as he was discharged under general under honorable conditions due to misconduct.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand disability is due to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran had vitreoretinal peripheral retinal degeneration and pinguecula during service. A new VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by loss of smell, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such a condition and giving more probative weight to the competent medical evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability, including bilateral lattice degeneration with atrophic holes and blepharitis. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a disorder manifested by joint and muscle pain, weakness, fevers, and frequent colds is denied as the evidence does not support a link to his active service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a left lower extremity neurological disability, finding that the Veteran does not have such a disability. The decision also noted that the Veteran's radiating back pain is part of his service-connected back disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding earlier effective dates for dependency status and service connection for a left eye disability. The AOJ needs to contact the San Diego RO to obtain correspondence from 1975 to 1976, including any notice of disagreement related to the October 1974 rating decision denying service connection for a left eye disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's heart block with implanted cardiac pacemaker, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Board has remanded two issues: one regarding the evaluation of service-connected status postnasal fracture with residual effects, and another to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for upper back pain. The Veteran needs to be scheduled for VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for diverticulitis with pelvic adhesions was granted at a 30 percent level. A higher rating is not warranted as the evidence does not show partial obstruction or drainage, which would be required for a 50 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7301 for peritoneal adhesions. The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to November 14, 2019 was also granted due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal disorder status post hemicolectomy, joint pain and myalgias, and arthritis as qualifying chronic disabilities due to undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's symptoms were not linked to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right trochanter bursitis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's bowel and bladder incontinence were found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected IVDS, leading to a grant of service connection for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's colon cancer and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for permanent incapacity for self-support has been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's gastritis disability is rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7305. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms are moderately severe and warrant this rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hand and left foot conditions, finding that there is no current disability attributable to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's residuals of hairy cell leukemia.