Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, which include a left thigh injury to Muscle Group XIV and a left foot injury to Muscle Group X, combined to render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment. Additionally, his service-connected disabilities rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's skin disorder and his military service. The claim is now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to lack of action by the AOJ in relation to previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility to continue Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits beyond the delimiting date of July 1, 2006 was denied as he did not file a timely request for an extension due to his inability to initiate or complete an education program prior to that date.

The Board has denied the reopening of both claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability is not related to service or any other condition, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Mayo Clinic records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these additional developments.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing before the RO to address his claim for an earlier effective date than August 9, 2003, for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate prior to March 28, 2013, and therefore denied his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as chloracne, was denied because there is no evidence of a chronic disease during service and the current condition does not meet presumptive criteria. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current pulmonary disability is not related to his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no new claim for DIC pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 since the December 2004 decision.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and has also granted the claim itself, finding that new evidence received since the March 2004 rating decision is sufficient to reopen the case.

The Veteran's claim for a respiratory disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) has not been adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a fracture of the left femur is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and failure to notify the Veteran of an upcoming VA examination.

The Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia was not shown in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no competent evidence that the condition is related to his military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected TMJ, finding that the Veteran's inter-incisal distance was at least 34 millimeters prior to June 9, 2012, and since then has been between 21-30 millimeters. The maximum allowable rating under DC 9905 is 20 percent.

The Board denied DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of death due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance caused by anal fistula, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure or service-connected conditions related to the cause of death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a request for information regarding unreimbursed medical expenses from the appellant's children. The termination of death pension benefits to the Veteran's children is under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new VA examination.