Other conditions decisions — 2014

The case is being remanded for further development and consideration of the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left great toe and non-specific duodenitis have been granted with effective dates based on when they were first shown to be related to his military service.

The appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of basic eligibility for VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bronchial condition, to include as due to asbestos exposure, was denied by the Board. The evidence did not show any current diagnosis of a bronchial condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a disability of his right fourth finger was denied as VA is precluded, by law, from granting an effective date prior to November 15, 2005.

The Board finds that there is no credible evidence of a current gastritis disability and the Veteran's in-service symptoms did not constitute a continuing disease process. The claim for service connection for gastritis is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder was pending at the time of his death, but the appellant did not file a timely claim for accrued benefits within one year after her brother's death. As such, she is denied entitlement to accrued benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge and notifying the Veteran of the date, time, and location of this hearing. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his case.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, claimed as breathing problems due to Gulf War Syndrome, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claimed conditions, including residuals of a cerebrovascular accident and intercranial hemorrhage, were not found to be service-connected. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his stress fractures of the bilateral shins, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 5262.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left foot disability, which he contends was incurred during an in-service motor vehicle accident. The Board finds that a remand is required to provide the Veteran with a VA examination to determine if his current left foot disorder may be related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected SFW injury to the left biceps muscle with retained foreign body has been rated at 10 percent since September 1, 1989 and a separate 10 percent rating for the tender foreign body. The initial compensable rating is granted.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not contain any evidence of a right eye injury or disorder. The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of a right eye disability and the clinical evidence does not support a relationship between his military service and any such condition.

The Board has decided the case needs additional development and remands it back to the RO for further action. The Veteran's lung disorder claim is being reviewed due to recent diagnoses of asthma.

The Veteran was entitled to a full book stipend for the academic year 2010-2011 under Chapter 33 of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and the VA owes him $500 for this benefit.

The Board denied the Appellant's request for an earlier effective date for apportionment benefits and also denied her request for a higher monthly apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits from April 1, 2010 to January 1, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.