Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any private evaluations or treatment records. The effective dates and ratings for PTSD and lumbar spine disability will be addressed in a SOC.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is denied because there is no evidence of herbicide exposure, the disability was not initially diagnosed during service or within one year after service, and there is no medical opinion linking CLL to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent, as the flexion limitation during flare-ups or after repetitive use over time was limited to 70 degrees.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination during an active phase of the Veteran's intertrigo fungus, which is most likely to occur in hot weather. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination and asked to provide additional lay evidence regarding his skin condition.

The Veteran's service connection for basal cell carcinomas has been granted, but the VA treatment records are incomplete. The Board is remanding the case to obtain more recent medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral eye condition. The examiner did not provide clear explanations for their findings and the Veteran was diagnosed with cataracts that were removed, complicating the analysis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his T5-6 disc herniation are remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA benefits is being remanded due to the need for confirmation of her drill pay days in FY 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for tongue and tonsil cancer due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the cause of his cancers.

The Veteran's initial compensable ratings for hyposmia (loss of sense of smell) and partial loss of taste have been denied.,His claims for increased ratings for anxiety disorder, TBI with post-concussive disorder, migraines, and individual unemployability are being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental condition, including gum disease, finding no evidence of a current dental condition related to an in-service trauma and noting that the weight of the competent evidence was against a finding that the Veteran’s current dental condition is related to any claimed in-service trauma.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on July 9, 2017 is granted as the appeal is considered under criteria for determining entitlement under the Veterans Millennium Healthcare and Benefits Act (Act), which includes being an active Department health-care participant.

The Veteran died during the appeal process, and therefore, the Board has no jurisdiction to decide his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a higher rating for peptic ulcer due to new evidence indicating worsening symptoms since the last examination.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, small bowel cancer, and spleen cancer due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of in-service exposure to harsh conditions including unclean drinking water.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his finally disallowed claim of service connection for bilateral elbow condition, but has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right inguinal hernia was denied as there was no evidence of a current hernia during the appeal period. The Board also remanded the case to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted due to the Veteran's residual inguinodynia.

The Veteran's daughter has not established that she was permanently incapable of self-support before the age of 18, and her claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 2, 2014 for adding the Veteran's spouse as a dependent. The Veteran provided all necessary information within one year of notification and his current marriage was not contested.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, not a minor offense. As such, his character of service is considered dishonorable, which bars him from receiving VA benefits.