Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for abnormal heart rate with implanted defibrillator is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew all pending appeals, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's service-connected left leg varicose veins are being remanded for a more contemporaneous examination due to increased symptomology and medication side-effects.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current disability and his military service.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not provide evidence of a pending claim for compensation or pension benefits at the time of his death. The appeal is denied as there are no legal grounds to award burial benefits.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not have a pending claim for VA benefits at the time of his death. The appeal is denied as there are no legal grounds to award burial benefits.

The claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits was denied because the application was not filed within two years of the Veteran's burial.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for a lower back injury. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed further as there are no in-service records and the Appellant has not received an examination or opinion related to his claimed condition.

The Veteran's funeral and cremation expenses were paid by an insurance company, not the appellant. Therefore, the claim for burial benefits is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection and TDIU due to cardiovascular disease. The Veteran's theory that his heart condition began in service is not addressed by the current evidence, and a VA examination is needed to determine if there is any link between his current heart condition and his military service or Gulf War exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and requests for additional evidence. The appellant is seeking compensation for her husband's death caused by a VA medical error in February 2010.

The appellant's claim for accrued benefits was denied because it was not filed within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for colon cancer and right vocal cord cancer (claimed as throat cancer) were dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the cases for readjudication due to new evidence being added to the claims file, including a September 2018 podiatry consult. The issues are whether the appellant is entitled to an increased rating for his hallux valgus with bunion and callus formation in both feet.

The Veteran's surviving child, C.C., has an annual income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate for a surviving child. Therefore, the veteran's surviving child is not eligible for survivor’s pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left upper extremity disabilities, including left supraspinatus tendinopathy and left acromioclavicular joint arthritis. The issues on appeal are related to increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's surviving spouse, the appellant, has already been reimbursed for all last sickness expenses submitted. She is not entitled to receive additional retroactive funds/accrued benefits as she does not qualify as a child of the Veteran.

The appeal for service connection for a jaw disorder is dismissed. An initial disability rating of 30 percent, and no higher, for status post cancer of the tonsil with residual scars is granted. The appeals for service connection for chronic constipation and nerve damage to the mouth are remanded.

The Veteran's eye condition required immediate medical attention due to the severity of symptoms, and VA facilities were not feasibly available. The claim for reimbursement is granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain the Veteran's military personnel records for his service with the Tennessee Army National Guard, specifically to verify his duty status on May 9, 1990 when he was involved in an automobile accident. The claims will be reconsidered after this development.