Other conditions decisions — 2015

The appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for DIC benefits because she was not married to him at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disorder is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development of records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hip disorder, diagnosed as bursitis, is etiologically related to his service-connected degenerative disk disease with intervertebral disk syndrome. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a bilateral hand disability that she believes is related to her service-connected bilateral foot disorder. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an examination by a rheumatologist, is necessary before the claim can be decided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his head injury and eye disability.

The case is being remanded to obtain a complete copy of the appellant's official military personnel file and service treatment record. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional information is obtained.

The case is being remanded for additional development to determine if all eligibility criteria have been met, including obtaining copies of the May 2012 claim for payment, June 2012 request for medical records, and the October 2012 decisional letter.

The Board has ordered additional development regarding the issue of basic eligibility for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 35. The appellant and her representative must be provided with a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board dismissed the appeal because a timely substantive appeal was not filed within the required time period.

The Board found that the Veteran's colon polyps and rectal cancer were neither caused nor aggravated by his service-connected hemorrhoids, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's duodenal ulcer with gastric resection, Billroth II surgery, and small bowel ulcers are service connected as they manifested during or within one year after his separation from active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not eligible for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 1606, Title 10 of the United States Code (known as the Montgomery GI Bill for Selected Reserves (MGIB-SR)).

The Veteran's Frey's syndrome is rated at 50 percent, the highest rating available under the skin criteria prior to the 2002 revisions. The Board has determined that this disability picture does not warrant a higher rating based on nerve symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a dental disorder and bilateral foot disorder has been dismissed due to withdrawal. The reduction of his VA disability benefits payment rate was proper, effective from December [redacted], 2010 to January [redacted], 2014. Service connection for left abdomen hernia is pending as new and material evidence has been received.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's heart disabilities and whether they are related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernias, including residuals of surgical repair, are related to injury incurred during active service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a head injury was denied as there is no credible evidence of a head injury during service. The claims for an eye disability and right arm disability are pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen whether his character of discharge constitutes a bar to VA benefits. The January 1982 Administrative Decision finding his service to be dishonorable remains final.

The Veteran's cause of death is listed as metastatic thymoma. The VA medical opinion suggests that the thymoma and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were not related, but the appellant argues otherwise. The Board finds a remand necessary to obtain additional records and provide an updated medical opinion.