Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a VA skin examination by a physician to determine the nature and etiology of any current skin disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a stomach disability and skin disability due to allergies to petroleum were denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current chronic skin disability or stomach disability.

The Veteran's daughter, S.M.P., is not residing primarily with the Veteran and he does not have to pay child support. The appellant has income from SSA benefits and employment but her expenses exceed her income, thus she does not meet the financial criteria for apportionment.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were reduced based on his felony incarceration, and an overpayment was created. The Board finds that the reduction of benefits was proper.

The Board found that the Veteran's right thumb onychomycosis and squamous cell carcinoma were not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The evidence did not show a nexus between these conditions and active duty.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service occurrence or aggravation of gout or gouty arthritis, and denied all issues related to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the addition of his children to his pension award, but the Board finds no legal basis for granting this claim and denies it as a matter of law.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. However, it is not in a position to grant service connection as there is no credible evidence linking the brainstem ependymoma to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal, finding that he made an irrevocable election for Chapter 33 benefits in lieu of Chapter 30 benefits and thus cannot rescind this election.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for visual impairment of the left eye and his request for an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss. The appeal is now being remanded to consider a VA examination report related to the left ear hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of his abdominal pain and upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the appellant's claim for FVEC benefits, but he does not have qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army or recognized guerrillas in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.

The Veteran's appeal for an extension of VRAP benefits beyond the 12-month period has been denied as he has already received the maximum allowable benefits under the law.

The Veteran's mood disorder is not manifested by symptoms equivalent to total occupational and social impairment, and thus an initial rating greater than 70 percent for the condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected psychiatric disabilities and his current tumor residuals.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he did not meet the threshold prerequisite to entitlement to Chapter 30 benefits because he first entered active duty prior to June 30, 1985.

The Veteran's left wrist disability, diagnosed as Kienbock's disease, has not resulted in more than a compensable degree of limitation of motion. The current rating of 10% is the maximum allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure in Thailand, which is a necessary step for determining service connection for the cause of death.