Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right elbow disability due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records, a DRO hearing transcript, and another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold injury to the hands and feet is granted as it was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to his presumptive exposure to herbicides during service, which contributed substantially or materially to his Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) that caused his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim regarding whether his character of discharge bars him from VA benefits due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for numbness of the right upper extremity is denied as there is no current diagnosis and no evidence of a chronic disability resulting from disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left hand third finger sprain.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a right hip disorder is granted. The issue of entitlement to a temporary total disability rating due to convalescence for right hip replacement surgery is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of service treatment records for a nasal fracture, and requests that VA search the Frankfurt Army Hospital records from 1983.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings for bilateral hip conditions and his claim for TDIU due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's daughter, J.R., experienced financial hardship due to inadequate support from the Veteran. A $250 per month special apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation on behalf of J.R. was granted effective January 28, 2013 through May 30, 2014.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015 was not received by VA before the deadline, and therefore his claim is denied.

The Veteran's meralgia paresthetica of the left lower extremity is currently rated at 20 percent, and a higher rating is requested. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's son, G.H., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to the age of 18 due to his disabilities. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical examination regarding the Veteran's neurobehavioral effects, including memory loss, insomnia, weakness and stress, allegedly caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The examiner must determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal because his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time frame, and thus he did not have a valid appeal.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining employment history and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incorrect jurisdiction in previous rating decisions and a need for readjudication with consideration of all relevant evidence since January 2016.

The Veteran's appeal was denied due to partial Medicare coverage, but the regulation is invalid and the claim should be reconsidered based on revised regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals during service. The case is also being reviewed for an addendum opinion from a hematologist or oncologist to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s thrombocytopenia with leukopenia and splenectomy.

The Veteran's service-connected disability rating was 50% at the time of his death, and he had been married to his surviving spouse for 37 years. The appellant is entitled to $1,254.19 in DIC benefits as per the current rate, but no more.