Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for service-connected panic disorder and agoraphobia. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the period between January 2007 and June 28, 2010, is necessary to properly adjudicate this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for new examinations to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine and hip disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the above-mentioned claims.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of receiving death pension benefits due to her remarriage ending in divorce.

The Board has determined that the appellant was eligible for CHAMPVA benefits from March 1, 2007 to July 1, 2013 due to administrative error on the part of VA. The appellant did not have Medicare Part B coverage until she enrolled in January 2013 and began receiving it on July 1, 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for reimbursement of copayment expenses incurred during a private hospitalization on July 29, 2014 due to VA being barred from reimbursing for copayments under his health-plan contract (Medicare).

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder is rated at a 10 percent disability level, effective July 8, 2010. The symptoms include depression, anxiety, anger, sleep disturbance, and memory loss.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer has not been more than moderate and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The Board finds that his claim for an increased evaluation of his duodenal ulcer is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right upper, right lower, and left lower extremity disabilities as residuals of a cervical spinal cord injury sustained during active duty. The Veteran's left upper extremity neurological disability is rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 8515.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral postoperative inguinal hernias do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as they are not recurrent, readily reducible, and well supported by truss or belt; neither the left nor right side is compensable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining deck logs from the USS McCloy and updating VA medical records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders will be evaluated to determine their etiology, with a focus on PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and addressing service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The issue of Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits on and after October 1, 2009 is deferred until the cause of death issue is resolved.

The Veteran's residuals of a right groin strain are rated as 0 percent, and the Board finds that he does not meet criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board found no causal connection between the Veteran's military service and his death, specifically denying entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, including as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's right and left foot calcaneal spurs are rated at a staged initial disability rating of 30 percent each, effective from July 15, 2013.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge from service is a bar to his receipt of VA compensation benefits due to willful and persistent misconduct.

The Veteran's residuals of a boxer's fracture of the right 4th and 5th metacarpals have been rated at 30 percent, effective October 3, 2009. The rating is for moderately severe disability.

The Veteran's service-connected testicalgia disability has been rated at 10 percent since July 12, 2008. For the initial rating period from January 1, 2007 to July 12, 2008, a higher initial rating of 10 percent was granted. The Veteran is also entitled to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current musculoskeletal disorder manifested by chest pain, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period of September 1, 2002 through January 5, 2014. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU for this period.