Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board has reopened the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits, but denied the claim due to the appellant's annual income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left eye disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hypertensive vascular disease, to include as secondary to service-connected sleep apnea and adjustment disorder. The case is REMANDED due to the need for additional medical opinion regarding the onset of hypertension during service and its relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel and treatment records, and determining whether the Veteran wishes to file a claim of entitlement to service connection. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right hand disability related to service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma is found to be related to sun exposure during his active military service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility is granted as the criteria for reimbursement have been met.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for rosacea has been dismissed as he withdrew his claim. The Board is remanding the claims of service connection for leukemia and subacute peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease is rated at a 30 percent disability rating, which meets the criteria for severe irritable colon syndrome with diarrhea and alternating diarrhea and constipation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of premature labor, as she did not have a chronic residual disability from her inservice inoculations and there is no evidence of any such disability since filing her claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hand and thumb scar is related to service, thus granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for multiple myeloma and finds that it is at least in equipoise with respect to whether the condition was incurred during active military service. The evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's exposure to chemicals, including TCDD, hydraulic fluid, and solvents, during his time as a helicopter mechanic caused his current diagnosis of multiple myeloma.

The Veteran's neuroma of the right lateral malleolus resulted in severe constant pain, intermittent pain, paresthesias and/or dysesthesias, and numbness of the right lower extremity from February 13, 2012. The disability is rated at 20 percent under DC 8521.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for educational assistance under Chapter 33, Title 38, United States Code (Post-9/11 GI Bill) due to insufficient qualifying active service after September 10, 2001.

The Board has denied the claim as a matter of law because there is no legal provision for special monthly pension for a surviving child based on the need for aid and attendance.

The appeal is being remanded due to a discrepancy in the enlistment term provided by the Department of Defense (DoD). The appellant's personnel records need to be reviewed and confirmed.

The Veteran's widow, the payee, died in July [redacted], 2011. The appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits as she did not have a pending claim at the time of her death and there were no unpaid VA benefits due her.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as she is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of receiving VA benefits.

The Board has granted the Veteran's waiver of recovery of an overpayment of $698.87 for VA education benefits, finding that recovery would be against equity and good conscience.

The Board denied the appellant's application for VRAP benefits due to his character of discharge being dishonorable, which disqualifies him from VA education benefits.