Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran died in a private hospital and was not hospitalized by VA. The claim for non-service connected burial benefits is denied as the criteria are not met.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as he does not have the requisite wartime service to establish basic eligibility.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein or related to herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorder is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left femur fracture residuals was denied as the current disability is primarily due to non-service connected Parkinson's disease and dementia, which limit his mobility.

The Board has granted service connection for a prostate disability, diagnosed as benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), to include as due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate review of the Veteran's claims file by the VA examiner. The claim will be adjudicated again after obtaining a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for chronic pruritus, recurrent skin eruptions, prior to January 15, 2016, was granted. The Veteran's increased evaluation from 30 percent disabling, effective January 15, 2016, remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical evidence and failure to follow all previous instructions. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after the additional development is completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disability other than pleural plaques, to include as secondary to his service-connected multiple myeloma, is denied due to the lack of current evidence of a chronic disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and for further development. The main issues are the evaluation of his left hip disability and TDIU.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia was denied as there is no evidence of a link between his condition and his military service. The issue regarding neural behavioral tics remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his liver, colon, skin, and left testicle disabilities. The Veteran also needs to be provided with a Statement of the Case on the issue of an initial compensable rating for candida rash of the penis.

The Veteran's neurogenic bladder disability was rated at 20 percent from October 21, 2010 through March 18, 2012. It was increased to 40 percent from March 19, 2012 to April 28, 2014 and finally to 60 percent from April 29, 2014 onwards.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for further verification of service and other procedural issues. The specific claims related to DIC, pension, and accrued benefits are also pending.

The Board found that the termination of payment for a surviving spouse pension was proper, but created an overpayment and debt of $4,040.56 instead of $4,414.56. The appellant is due a return of overcollected funds in the amount of $364.00.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for acute otitis externa of the right ear.

The Board has scheduled a Travel Board hearing but the transcript of the May 2016 hearing is not available due to technical difficulties. The case is being remanded for scheduling another hearing.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to allow the Office of the General Counsel to review the fee agreement between the Appellant and the Veteran. The case will be returned for further action.