Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board denied a request to establish an effective date prior to April 24, 2015 for the award of dependency benefits for the Veteran's spouse. The claim was based on the Veteran's marriage to his current spouse, D.R., which took place on June 30, 2012. However, VA did not receive notification of this marriage until April 24, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acinic cell parotid gland carcinoma is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed exposures and medical causation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inextricability of his dependent child claim with other pending service connection issues.

The Veteran's recurrent rectal abscess is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds it should be evaluated under a different diagnostic code. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for an appropriate rating determination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and review of service records. The Veteran's Achilles tendon disability is being reviewed again for a proper determination.

The Veteran's $4,843.85 debt is solely the result of VA administrative error and thus invalid. The issue of entitlement to a debt waiver is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disorders due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of clarity regarding current diagnoses. The Veteran is also being asked to provide authorization for any private medical records he may have.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood associated with right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the original claim was filed on January 20, 2012.

The VA has reinstated DIC benefits to the Appellant as her remarriage did not bar payment due to fraud or collusion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and for a TDIU due to inadequate examinations and incomplete development of records. The right hip disorder claim is also being remanded for an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's left inguinal hernia, status post herniorrhaphy does not meet the schedular requirements for a higher rating under the relevant diagnostic codes. The claim is being remanded and referred to VA’s Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma due to herbicide exposure during his time in Thailand is granted. The Board found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides and has a current diagnosis of multiple myeloma, granting presumptive service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left foot condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current condition and her military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected respiratory disability is remanded due to the lack of adequate pulmonary function test (PFT) records. Additionally, issues related to service connection for scars, dysphagia, and right upper extremity weakness are referred back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's anal incontinence is denied as it was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault.

The Veteran's pension claim is granted as his income and net worth do not exceed the maximum annual pension rate, considering his life expectancy and potential rate of depletion.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he has no service-connected disabilities, thus not meeting the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to liver cancer, but remanded the case for a VA medical opinion on whether the Veteran's liver cancer was caused by his military service or specifically herbicide exposure. The DIC claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability diagnosed as degenerative joint disease of L5-S1, finding that it was aggravated by active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as a T12 compression fracture, on a secondary basis to his service-connected residuals of cerebrovascular accident (CVA), left lower extremity. The decision finds that the Veteran's back disability was proximately due to his service-connected CVA.