Other conditions decisions — 2016

The appellant's claim for VA benefits as the Veteran's surviving child was denied due to lack of service in the U.S. Armed Forces, and his claim for one-time payment from the FVECF was also denied because he did not meet the requirements for veteran status.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an allergic reaction to insect bites and stings is granted. The claim of service connection for PTSD has been reopened, but the issue remains pending as it still needs evidence to establish a current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysm is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right foot disability, diagnosed as hallux rigidus, is related to an injury in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of VA death benefits due to a legal divorce prior to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for a right index finger disability, a right long finger disability, and a right little finger disability. The Veteran's hand disabilities are now considered part of his original claim for a 'Right Hand Disability.'

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left piriformis syndrome is related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right little finger disability is granted. The VA examiner found no evidence of broken right little finger or residuals, but noted an enlargement of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the right fifth finger.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disease, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service and no medical evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide supplemental opinions regarding the severity of his conditions.

The Board found that the termination of the Veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective February 1, 2006, through December 31, 2008, was proper due to excessive countable income.

The Veteran's rehabilitation to the point of employability in a building maintenance technician position has been denied because there is no evidence that his training was inadequate or that he could not perform the duties of this occupation.

The Veteran's respiratory illness was rated at 10 percent disabling from November 2, 1993, to March 3, 2011, and later increased to 60 percent disabling starting from March 3, 2011.

The Veteran was awarded education benefits for the periods from September 1-29, 2013, and from November 24, 2013 to January 5, 2014, as these intervals were less than eight weeks long and occurred between at least as long terms.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of dry eye syndrome, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The Board also found no evidence to support direct service connection for Bell's palsy, difficulty swallowing, bilateral hand disorder, or meningioma of the scalp.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's testicular atrophy is not related to service, including any herbicide exposures during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic condition related to the Veteran's ear infections during service, and thus denied her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.