Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, dysthymia, and polysubstance abuse was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused these conditions. The Board found that the current diagnoses of dysthymia and polysubstance abuse are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pleural plaques are related to his military service, specifically asbestos exposure during his time as a mess management specialist and fireman. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's skin rash of the trunk and extremities is considered to have started during service and has persisted since then, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral chondromalacia patella was found to have started during his military service and is granted as a result.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left elbow disability, OSA rating, and 4th metacarpal fracture of the left hand due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a skin condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia, claimed as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disability, is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right ankle disability is remanded.

The Veteran's service is not considered active duty during a recognized period of war, thus he does not meet the eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of any heart condition, including coronary artery disease (CAD) and atypical chest pain.

The case is being remanded for the AOJ to review additional VA and private treatment records submitted by the Veteran. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pseudophakia, optic atrophy and nasal stationary pterygium (claimed as a bilateral eye disorder) and denied reopening of his claim for residuals of nose fracture. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran died at home and was receiving private hospice care. The VA did not pay for the hospice care, so the claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits is denied.

The Board denied the claim of entitlement to nonservice-connected burial benefits, stating that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for such benefits as he was not receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of his death and died at home without being admitted to a VA facility.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating for the Veteran's fracture of the fourth and fifth metacarpals of the right hand from 20 percent to 10 percent was proper due to a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the January 2009 rating decision. The effective date is set at September 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that the cause of the Veteran's death is metastatic rectal cancer, but there are questions about whether his exposure to herbicides in service contributed to his condition. The appeal is being remanded for further development and clarification.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not have an original or reopened claim for VA compensation at the time of his death. The Board denied the claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's rating for neuritis of the left supra-orbital nerve, manifested by headaches, is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.