Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for hyperventilation syndrome and denied it for defective heart valve. The Veteran's hyperventilation syndrome is found to have developed during active service, while the defective heart valve is not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, citing satisfaction with a previous compensation award.

The Veteran's appeal is about his entitlement to additional VA educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The claim was remanded due to incomplete documentation, specifically missing award and disallowance letters for a specific period of education benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for a mood disorder and for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's private psychiatrist records are requested, and another VA examination is scheduled.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for survivor pension benefits, stating that the earliest communication received by VA was in February 2017, which is more than a year after the Veteran's death. The decision cites statutory guidelines and lack of evidence supporting an earlier submission.

The appeal for VA death pension and accrued benefits was dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw her appeal.

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's service-connected psychotic disorder: a rating in excess of 70 percent and an effective date prior to December 21, 2012.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits as his body was not held by a VA facility.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits, finding that his mother was not owed any unpaid benefits at the time of her death.

The Veteran's left thumb disability is rated at a non-compensable level due to pain, weakness and instability. A higher rating of 10% has been granted for the period on appeal.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information about the Appellant's separation from service, including any documentation related to a summary court-martial.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disability may be related to his military service, but a VA examination is needed to confirm this relationship and provide a rating.

The Veteran's eye disability, which was previously rated at 30 percent, has been restored to a 30 percent rating effective March 1, 2015. The Board found that the reduction in rating from 30 percent to non-compensable (zero percent) was improper and not supported by evidence of improvement.

The Veteran's service-connected radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis has been rated at 60 percent since January 27, 2014. The Board found that the DLCO (SB) test results have consistently shown between 44-52 percent predicted throughout this period, which meets the criteria for a 60 percent rating.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for mouth cancer, including as due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, finding that there was no evidence supporting a relationship between the Veteran's mouth cancer and active service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an ulcer of the left leg has been dismissed due to his death.

The VA denied the claim for a Government-furnished headstone or marker because the Veteran's grave is not unmarked, as it includes a marker that identifies him and his wife.

The claim of entitlement to burial benefits for the Veteran's surviving spouse is denied because she was not a veteran and thus did not meet the eligibility criteria.

The Veteran's grave is not considered unmarked, thus the claim for a Government-furnished headstone or marker is denied.