Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 20, 2018, for adding her spouse as a dependent to her VA disability compensation award. The criteria were not met due to lack of proof of dependents within one year of notification.

The Board has determined that the issue of whether Sjogren's syndrome is secondary to service-connected fibromyalgia poses a medical problem of such complexity that an advisory opinion from an independent medical expert (specifically, a rheumatologist) is required. The AOJ should follow its established procedures for requesting an advisory opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeal as a duplicate claim of an already decided matter regarding the Veteran's means test eligibility category.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for RLE circulatory disorder, LLE circulatory disorder, and skin disorder due to a lack of probative evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and requests for clarification on the qualifications of the VA examiners who provided the necessary assessments.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for dizziness and nausea, both secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran needs to undergo examinations to determine the nature and severity of these conditions and whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected right ring finger disability is denied as the evidence does not support a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further medical evaluation to determine if the Veteran's blurry vision is related to service-connected TBI residuals, migraine headaches, and other conditions.

The Veteran's glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer, was not incurred in service and is not related to his military service.,The cause of the Veteran's death (glioblastoma) was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's congenital adrenoleukodystrophy was aggravated by his in-service head injury. The case will be returned for further development and an updated opinion.

The Board has granted a 10 percent initial disability rating for the service-connected diverticulitis with hiatal hernia from August 2, 2010. The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial (compensable) disability rating for the hiatal hernia is denied.

The Board found that the appellant's misconduct was willful and persistent, leading to a discharge under dishonorable conditions. As such, his military service does not entitle him to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's DLE.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing a VA opinion regarding the Veteran's eye conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right shin splints and left elbow disability as there is no current diagnosis or present disability.