Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service connection claim for heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his time at Nakhom Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has granted a rating of 50 percent effective from the date of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and review of financial information from July 9, 2008 to March 29, 2010. The appellant must provide updated monthly income and expenses.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as he is not a child of the Veteran and did not meet eligibility criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia was denied as there is no credible evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and the disease did not manifest within one year after discharge. The Board found that CLL is not related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and opinion regarding causation of his additional disability.

The Veteran's request for an extension of a temporary total rating beyond April 30, 2008 based on the need for convalescence following surgery for right hip replacement was denied. The Board found that there is no legal entitlement to this benefit.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lower back strain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alopecia, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected sinusitis, has been remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign essential tremors and a bilateral leg disorder due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected corns and calluses of the first and fifth toes of both feet are rated at 30 percent each, meeting the criteria for a severe foot disability under Diagnostic Code 5284.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to her death while the appeal was pending.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of apportionment of pension benefits, finding no evidence of any prior claim or intent to file a claim before May 11, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for educational assistance under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) because his active duty service after September 10, 2001 did not qualify as active duty for purposes of administration and payment of benefits.

The Veteran's representative has withdrawn the appeal regarding his disagreement with the accuracy of vocational rehabilitation and employment subsistence payments.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not eligible for accrued benefits due to insufficient evidence showing he used his own funds to pay for the Veteran's last care or treatment. The case is therefore REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's death was related to exposure to Agent Orange during service, and the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as metastatic cancer of adrenal gland, with underlying causes including atherosclerosis and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The Board is remanding the case to determine if the paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is related to his atherosclerosis.

The Veteran was previously notified of his eligibility for VRAP benefits, but he wants to enroll in a part-time program. The Board denied the claim as he is not eligible due to the requirement of full-time enrollment.

The case is being remanded to determine if the Veteran had any other coverage for the emergency treatment at Sparrow Hospital on September 28, 2011. The appeal will be readjudicated after this determination.