Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under section 1318.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for endometriosis, finding that her current gynecological disorders did not have their onset in service or were related to military service, including exposure to environmental toxins while serving in Southwest Asia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient documentation regarding the Veteran's drill days in fiscal years 2014 and 2015, as well as an incomplete accounting of overpayments. The VA is instructed to prepare a paid and due audit showing exactly how much the Veteran's VA compensation benefits were worth during his active duty periods and subsequent drill periods.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection for cause of death was granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, finding that there is no current diagnosis and that his pterygia were noted at induction but not currently present.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lichen simplex is being remanded due to the need for further evidentiary development.

The Veteran's additional service from July 11, 2003 to June 27, 2004 is considered qualifying active duty and grants him the right to Post-9/11 GI Bill Education benefits at the 100 percent rate.

The Board granted service connection for cataracts, finding that the Veteran's eye disorder is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot pes cavus was denied in January 2009, and he did not appeal. He submitted a new application to reopen his claim on June 3, 2011, which resulted in the grant of service connection effective from April 19, 2013. The Board found that an earlier effective date was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the proper appellant for the appeal period stemming from the current appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death as custodian of her minor children needs to be determined. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell lung carcinoma was denied in April 2003 due to the RO incorrectly applying the presumption of herbicide exposure. The Court found that the RO erred in not requiring 'affirmative evidence to the contrary' and thus granted revision of the decision.

The Board found that the Appellant qualifies as a 'surviving spouse' for VA benefits purposes due to her marriage to the Veteran and her testimony regarding the separation from him.

The Board has previously remanded the claim to determine if pancreatic cancer, which was listed as the cause of death on the Veteran's death certificate, is related to service. The examiner must provide a rationale for their opinion without relying solely on the fact that pancreatic cancer is not presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus condition because new evidence did not establish a link between her current condition and her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple myeloma is related to his active service, specifically due to exposure to benzene during his time in the military. As a result, the claim for service connection for multiple myeloma is granted.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 30 percent for the service-connected right inguinal hernia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) from March 2016, and the VA needs to either provide a copy or readjudicate the appeal based on all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding informed consent and a need for a new VA opinion on whether the Veteran's neck disorder is an additional disability caused or aggravated by the June 2007 VA chiropractic treatment.

The Board has remanded the case for further action on two issues: determining an effective date prior to June 4, 2013 for the award of VA death pension benefits and whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the April 1982 decision which discontinued the payment of survivor’s pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's aortic stenosis was incurred in service and granted service connection for the cause of his death.