Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected chronic endometritis does not currently cause any symptoms or require treatment, thus no compensable evaluation is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hand conditions were denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of a disability in either hand, and the preponderance of evidence did not support attributing his symptoms to exposure to hazardous substances during service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for additional accrued benefits as reimbursement for last illness and burial of the Veteran, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against her claim.

The appellant is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, beyond June 14, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for central serous choroidopathy, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and depressive disorder not otherwise specified.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome was granted, with an effective date of April 21, 2010.

The appellant was not enrolled in full-time training for the period from March 17, 2013 to May 18, 2013 and therefore did not meet the eligibility criteria for Veteran's Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) benefits.

The appellant's claim for Veteran's Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) benefits from April 1, 2014 to June 15, 2014 is denied as the law did not provide for any extension of VRAP after its termination on March 31, 2014.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative joint disease, effective from the date of the April 2006 rating decision.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip trochanteric bursitis. As a result, this issue is no longer under appellate consideration.

The Veteran's grandson, A.T.S., was not considered a child for VA dependency allowance purposes prior to his adoption by the Veteran in August 2012. After being adopted, A.T.S. received Chapter 35 education benefits effective August 27, 2012, which precluded payment of a dependency allowance as a matter of law.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's foot disabilities, including hallux valgus, metatarsalgia, and hallux rigidus, have not resulted in a disability rating higher than 10 percent for any period of time. The effective dates for service connection were adjusted to reflect when the claim was received.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination of his right foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected T-12 compression fracture residuals is not manifested by forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine limited to 60 degrees or less; nor is the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine 120 degrees or less; nor is there muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis. Therefore, a higher rating in excess of 10 percent for this disability is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, including keratoconus and cataracts, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current eye disabilities.

The Veteran's death was caused by liver cancer, which had its onset during his active service. The Board found that the in-service liver problems contributed to the development of the rare form of liver cancer and thus granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the appellant did not serve in the Armed Forces, reserve components, or the National Guard and therefore does not qualify for veteran status.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip and leg condition was caused by his own willful misconduct, specifically alcohol abuse during service. As such, it denied service connection for this condition.