Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran had no pending claims for accrued benefits at the time of his death, and therefore there are no accrued benefits to be paid. The appellant has no legal entitlement to these benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's June 4, 2003 statement was an informal claim of entitlement to service connection for his right thumb and little fingers. The appeal is being remanded to obtain a retrospective VA opinion assessing the nature and severity of his service-connected right hand disability at the beginning of the period on appeal.

The Veteran developed recurrent TMJ symptoms during active service and has been treated for it since then. The Board finds that the in-service treatment is sufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unclear calculation of overpayment and the need for additional documentation from Dallas Baptist University.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for gout and remanded it due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's appeal regarding his combined disability rating from October 5, 2010, to June 6, 2012, is denied as there was no legal basis for a higher rating. The Board also remanded the claims of increased ratings for HTN and DM, initial rating for cardiomegaly, and TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for VA death benefits, including DIC and pension, as his service was not verified by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The NPRC certified that he did not have any qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Veteran died of multiple causes, including Alzheimer's disease and other chronic conditions. The VA determined that these conditions were not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's gastric carcinoma may be related to service in Korea, but needs further evidence from a VA specialist.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for costochondritis, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural deficiencies and requests for updated financial information from both parties, specifically regarding child support payments and educational status of the children.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for further consideration by the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's right index finger disability is granted a higher initial rating of 10 percent, effective from April 14, 2010.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, is found to be related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange). Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's son, the appellant, was found eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective April 30, 2007. However, his application for retroactive payment of DEA benefits prior to April 2, 2011, is denied as there is no provision in law that would allow for such payments.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left elbow is being remanded due to evidence indicating that his condition has worsened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current throat cancer resulted from in-service asbestos exposure, and therefore grants service connection for carcinoma in situ with severe vocal cord dysplasia (throat cancer).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ulcer disorder, intestinal disorder, and esophagus disorder. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine whether the appellant's former marriage terminated in a manner that allows her to qualify as 'unmarried' within the meaning of 38 C.F.R. § 3.55(b). The appeal is remanded for obtaining relevant medical records and other evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for fungal otitis externa, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for atrial fibrillation was dismissed because he withdrew his appeal in July 2018.