Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's pension benefits were discontinued from May 9, 2008 to October 1, 2011 due to fugitive felon status and incarceration. The appeal is remanded as the procedures for establishing 'fugitive felon status' need to be updated based on new VBA guidance.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his cavernous sinus tumor disability.

The Board denied the claim as the Veteran died before November 1, 1990, and is not eligible for a government-furnished headstone or marker on his privately-marked grave in a private cemetery.

The Board has denied death pension benefits due to lack of qualifying wartime service. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded as there are insufficient opinions regarding whether his mental illness or medications caused his esophageal cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a total abdominal hysterectomy was granted with an effective date of October 5, 2011. The decision found that the disability was secondary to her service-connected Crohn’s disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Lyme disease, and its associated symptoms, are related to his service during National Guard training in July 2011. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shin splints and gastritis due to a lack of current disability. The claim for gastritis is remanded as there is no medical nexus opinion in the file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral elbow disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's SMC claim is being remanded to obtain a current VA examination to determine if he needs aid and attendance.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder arthralgia, tinnitus, and cervical spine arthralgia. The Veteran's claims were not supported by credible evidence of continuity or chronicity.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to increased disability ratings for testalgia is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome is related to his service in Vietnam, specifically due to exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including limitation of extension and instability, is rated at 40 percent effective January 24, 2018. A separate 20 percent rating for moderate instability is granted since May 18, 2007. A 30 percent rating for severe instability or recurrent subluxation is granted as of September 6, 2017. A 20 percent rating for limitation of flexion and a 20 percent rating for meniscus condition are effective January 24, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the TDIU claim due to incomplete information about the Veteran's service in the U.S. Army Reserve and National Guard, as well as his employment status during the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for necrotic tissue of the brain and spine, finding that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis separate from his service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not meet the income requirements for death pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability is denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a greater than 50 percent or 70 percent rating, as they were of mild severity and frequency.

The Board denied the appellant's claim, finding that his active duty from April 18, 2006 to October 27, 2009 ended with an other than honorable discharge and is therefore a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriatic arthritis is remanded due to the need to obtain authorization and medical records from Dr. R.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for residuals of a dental injury as it is not a compensable disability and there is no evidence of damage to the jaw during service.