Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board previously denied the appellant's claim that his character of discharge was a bar to VA benefits. The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims has remanded the case, requiring further development regarding the appellant's service treatment records and a medical opinion on whether he was insane during military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying the Veteran's exposure to asbestos during service and obtaining an updated opinion from the October 2007 VA examiner regarding whether his pulmonary fibrosis is related to asbestos exposure.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for automobile and adaptive equipment or for adaptive equipment only, and specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant. As such, the Board dismisses these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a left varicocele, status post internal spermatic vein ligation, were incurred in or due to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected grade II spondylolisthesis L5, bilateral spondylolysis prior to November 2, 2010 is not rated higher than 20 percent and from that date is not rated higher than 40 percent. The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at the maximum of 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and inconsistencies in the medical records regarding the nature of her claimed spina bifida.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU have been remanded due to the failure to appear at a previously scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate proceedings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left hip strains are related to his active service, including parachute jumps he completed during this period. Therefore, these conditions have been granted as service-connected.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic chest disability during service and concluded that the Veteran does not have any residuals of a chest wall injury which was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran does not have a current skin disability and the preponderance of evidence does not support his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left arm neuritis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as there is no competent medical evidence establishing a diagnosis of spina bifida, which is required for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1805.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, and thus this issue will be reconsidered after further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is related to his service, specifically exposure to chemical agents. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination and opinion.

The Veteran's narcolepsy is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted. The hypertension issue remains pending for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic myeloid leukemia, which he claims is due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, has been remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's grandchildren, MPS, MLS, and MDS, are not recognized as dependents for VA compensation purposes due to the specific legal criteria set by Congress.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bad conduct discharge from service does not constitute a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is now competent to handle his VA benefits, based on recent evidence showing he no longer uses drugs and family members' support of this determination.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.