Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran seeks service connection for respiratory and right hand disorders. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records prior to 2006 and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's son is requesting compensation for his child born with spina bifida. The appeal was remanded due to the appellant's request for a rescheduled hearing.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for burial benefits under VA regulations. The claim is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an ulcer, gastritis, and a hiatal hernia. The evidence received since the last final denial shows that the Veteran currently suffers from these conditions but does not establish their direct or secondary relationship to his military service.

The Board found that the initial award of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance was in error because it was not based solely on service-connected disabilities. The preponderance of evidence shows that the Veteran's nonservice-connected conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia, rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the appellant's request to waive recovery of an overpayment in death pension benefits due to a delay exceeding 180 days from notification of the debt.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. Service connection for hairy cell leukemia, presumed due to herbicide exposure, is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the failure to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer was not etiologically related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected gout is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Board found that the Veteran was not enrolled in a full-time program during the period of August 27, 2012 to October 18, 2012 and thus was not eligible for VRAP benefits. As a result, an overpayment of $2,607.80 was created. The Board determined that this overpayment was properly created.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral onychomycosis is granted, as her condition had its onset during active service.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been received. The appellant is therefore not entitled to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Banner Gateway Medical Center on January 28, 2012 has been granted in full by the NAPC. As a result, there is no case or controversy for the Board to adjudicate.

The Veteran's application for non-service-connected burial benefits was not timely filed, and the claim is denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a specific diagnosis, cholangiocarcinoma. The decision found that this disorder was not considered a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 40 percent rating for his service-connected partial tear of the left medial meniscus, effective November 1, 2007. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the appellant's service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including organized guerrilla groups. The case will be returned to the AOJ for this purpose.

The Veteran's application for educational assistance benefits was denied as he did not submit the required Training Agreement within one year of his claim, and the training occurred more than a year prior to that.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's daughter was permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching the age of 18, and this decision will be remanded for such development.