Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has denied service connection for prostate disability, gastrointestinal disorder, difficulty breathing, and right eye disability due to lack of a nexus between the conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glioblastoma multiforme was related to his exposure to environmental hazards during active service, including burn pits. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as his combined disability ratings already contemplate significant impairment in earning capacity and loss of working time.

The Board denied service connection for arteritis and TDIU prior to January 23, 2017 due to the lack of a current diagnosis of arteritis and because the Veteran was engaged in gainful employment up until October 2017.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of higher ratings for shin splints is denied. The effective date cannot be earlier than March 28, 2017 as there was no prior informal or formal claim for increased rating before this date.

The Board denied the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits due to a bar on VA benefits based on an undesirable discharge under other than honorable conditions. The appeal was not about service connection, but rather the character of the appellant's spouse's discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a waiver to recover an overpayment of VA benefits, finding that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience due to the Veteran's partial fault in creating the debt.

The Veteran's bilateral visual impairment is rated at 70 percent effective March 13, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for costochondritis as there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty. The new evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant was insane at the time of his discharge in April 1971, and therefore, his character of discharge does not bar him from receiving VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TMJ dysfunction and a mouth condition, including multiple tori, due to internal inconsistencies in previous opinions. The Veteran needs further medical evaluation to determine if he currently has these conditions and their relationship to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notification of the appellant's August 2018 substantive appeal and her right to a hearing.

The Board has granted reopening of the claim for service connection for mycosis fungoides and has also granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disease and right foot cellulitis due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain his treatment records from Dr. R.S., and a new opinion is needed regarding the etiology of any cellulitis or foot disease during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for his thoracic spine disability and entitlement to TDIU due to the need for additional evidence, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were reduced due to his incarceration, resulting in an overpayment. The decision is remanded for a detailed audit and notification of appeal rights.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for heart valve disability, finding that the evidence does not support a causal link between VA treatment and the disability.

The Veteran's right hip disability, including avulsion fracture residuals, degenerative joint disease, and trochanteric bursitis, has been rated at 10 percent since December 30, 2008. The Board found that the condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's cause of death, hepatic failure due to or as a consequence of metastatic adenocarcinoma of the small bowel, is granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam service.

The Board has granted accrued benefits for the Veteran's death, finding that his income was below the maximum annual pension rate and he met other eligibility criteria.