Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for retroactive benefits as he did not provide VA with a completed VA Form 21-674 within one year of his son J.'s eighteenth birthday or when J. began attending college after turning eighteen.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth numbered 7 and 8, finding that there is no evidence of a loss of substance of the maxilla or mandible during service due to an in-service trauma or disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental condition for treatment purposes only is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of loss of substance of the maxilla or mandible resulting from in-service trauma, which would be required for compensation purposes. For his bilateral hearing loss disability, the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating is also denied as there is no evidence showing that his current level of hearing impairment warrants a higher evaluation.

The appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, preventing her from receiving death pension benefits.

The Veteran's cause of death, Hodgkin's lymphoma, is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need to obtain private treatment records and provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his eye conditions.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for ulcers and a skin disorder, as well as rating adjustments for his scars. The case is being remanded to obtain additional evidence and provide necessary examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral eye condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion on whether his current eye condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gastritis is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's schizoid personality disorder, diagnosed during childhood and not aggravated by service, does not meet the criteria for a service-connected psychiatric disability. The claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) is therefore denied.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a bladder disability. The Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms, and the Board granted service connection based on direct evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of urinary dysfunction as secondary to her service-connected lumbosacral spine disability. The Board found that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between her spinal condition and her urinary dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of a waiver of collection efforts for a debt in the amount of $29,662.93 is being remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum VA examination to address the severity of his service-connected groin disability and its relationship to his BPH with voiding dysfunction. The TDIU issue is also inextricably intertwined and must be addressed concurrently.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disability was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a bilateral eye disability is denied.

The Veteran's residuals of a cholecystectomy are rated at 10 percent prior to April 29, 2016 and 30 percent from that date onwards.,Both scars associated with the cholecystectomy have been rated as noncompensable (0%) since November 7, 2014.

The Veteran's PVD with premature atherosclerosis of the right lower extremity has not resulted in claudication on walking more than 100 yards, and diminished peripheral pulses or ankle/brachial index of 0.9 or less, thus preventing him from receiving a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7114.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA benefits due to change in the Veteran's marital status was properly created in the amount of $2,742.27 and denied the Veteran's claim for a waiver of recovery.

The Veteran's claims for education benefits under various VA programs were denied as he did not meet the eligibility requirements based on his service records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's pelvic disorder is being evaluated to determine if it is related to his military service.