Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's current bilateral eye disability, specifically his loss of vision.

The Board denied the appellant's requests to reopen her claims for service connection for cause of death and whether she could be recognized as a former POW, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as there is evidence suggesting a possible connection between the Veteran's respiratory disability and his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the claim of legal entitlement to VA death benefits as the appellant's husband did not have qualifying service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to waive recovery of an overpayment of Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) benefits in the amount of $3,570.67 due to bad faith and failure to report changes in enrollment status.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for death pension because his service was not considered to have been completed successfully, leading to a contingent Other than Honorable discharge. As a result, he did not meet the criteria for basic entitlement to improved death pension.

The Veteran's service-connected costochondritis is rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a lower left leg stab wound as there is no current disability and the evidence does not support a link to active military service.

Your claim for service connection for a lung disability (claimed as asbestosis and silicosis) has been granted, and the issue is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include as due to in-service exposure to environmental hazards during the Persian Gulf War, finding no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a jaw disability due to lack of response on issues of hypertension and left ankle disability, and because there is insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current jaw disability is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for neuritis in the left fifth digit and residuals of fracture of the left fifth finger were denied. The neuritis was rated as 10 percent disabling, while the fractures resulted in a noncompensable rating.

The Board is remanding the case to associate a Statement of the Case from October 2015 with the appellant's claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and VCAA notice, and to address the etiology of the left Achilles tendinitis.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spinal stenosis, post-operative with degenerative disc disease, is granted. The evaluation of the right shoulder impingement postoperative and right upper extremity radiculopathy are also granted. However, the claims for increased ratings for the right knee lateral meniscal tear and TDIU remain pending.

The Veteran's eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits is denied because his service ended in a general discharge due to misconduct and he did not serve the required active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of right leg chronic venous insufficiency, finding that it was not incurred in or caused by active duty service.

The appellant's spouse did not have service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including in the recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, the appellant is not entitled to VA death benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA dental examination to clarify the nature and etiology of any current dental disability found to be present, including whether it is at least as likely as not caused by in-service dental trauma.

The Veteran's unauthorized ambulance transportation services from Quilcene Volunteer Fire Department on July 9, 2013 are now covered by VA as the costs were not fully covered by his health insurance (Medicare Parts A and B).