Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC at a higher rate or intermediate level of care as required by law.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's gynecological disability, including her partial hysterectomy and condyloma. The VA is instructed to obtain missing service separation records, update clinical records, and schedule a VA examination for an opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and her in-service conditions.

The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility to receive Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits was denied as he did not elect to participate in the program and did not later withdraw his election.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his healed mid-distal left and right femur shaft fractures are remanded due to the need for additional medical records. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be related to these issues.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the appellant did not provide evidence of an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of his death. The appeal is denied as there are no legal grounds to award burial benefits.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the appellant did not provide evidence of an original or reopened claim for VA compensation or pension benefits. The Veteran died at a private hospice facility and had no pending claims for burial benefits. Therefore, the claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death, multiple myeloma, was not service-connected. The evidence did not establish in-service exposure to herbicides or any other conditions that would have warranted a presumption of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing disability, including left ear hearing loss, is related to service and aggravated by service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a lymphatic system disability other than lymphoma, to include lymphedema, as the evidence did not show that it had its onset during service or was related to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence submitted by the Appellant, and will be reviewed by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for dependent's benefits due to a lack of evidence showing she contacted VA prior to July 16, 2012 regarding changes in her dependents' status.

The Board denied service connection for otitis externa due to lack of a current disability related to service. The Veteran's claim for chronic bladder neck obstruction is remanded as the VA medical opinion was based on outdated information and new evidence suggests it may be related to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an increased evaluation of non-cardiac syncope due to insufficient information from a previous VA examination. A new examination is required to determine the severity and frequency of the Veteran's service-connected condition.

The Board has not found a connection between the Veteran's dry eye syndrome and his service, as there was no diagnosis of this condition during his active duty. However, since VA treatment records show that he had this condition during the appeal period, another remand is required to determine if it is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to improper procedures with respect to the Veteran's request for waiver of recovery of the housing allowance overpayment. The matter must be referred to the Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWC) for review of whether waiver is appropriate, and a detailed accounting showing how the total overpayment debt was calculated must be prepared.

The Veteran is granted a temporary total rating for two months following his February 2014 surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome due to the need for convalescence.

The Veteran's hairy-cell leukemia is related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was cardiorespiratory arrest due to abdominal carcinomatosis. The claim for DIC benefits is denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The Board found that the Appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, not a minor offense. The Board also determined she was not insane during her service. Therefore, her discharge is considered dishonorable, which bars VA benefits.