Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left-hand condition and a right hand skin condition, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip pain and radiating pain, as well as left hip pain and radiating pain, both secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for breast cancer and osteoporosis as secondary to treatment for breast cancer due to potential exposure to radiation during military training. The Veteran's account is corroborated by military records, but further examination and opinion are needed regarding any nexus between her conditions and in-service exposures.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a thoracic spine disability is reopened due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded as the VA has not provided an opinion regarding the etiology of the current thoracic spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a skin disorder other than his service-connected Lyme disease is denied as there is no current evidence of such a condition.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected benign colon polyp was denied as the condition has been essentially asymptomatic.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The Board also noted that a remand is required for the award of temporary total evaluation, but it will be returned to the Board only if a timely substantive appeal is filed.

The Veteran's right tibia disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board has ordered a remand to assess the current severity of his condition and determine if it warrants a higher rating prior to November 21, 2014.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased VA nonservice-connected death pension benefits from December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013 and for payment of nonservice-connected death pension benefits from December 1, 2013 onwards due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome with anemia and leukemia was denied. However, the cause of death due to acute myelogenous leukemia was granted based on exposure to contaminated water at Beale Air Force Base.

The Veteran's widow was entitled to VA benefit payments that were unpaid at the time of her death in April 2012. The appellant, as a child, does not qualify for accrued benefits because he is an adult and did not become permanently incapable of self-support before age 18.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for neurological disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, as there are incomplete STRs in the file.

The Veteran's muscle spasm disability due to undiagnosed illness is granted as incurred in service, with the presumption under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the remand directives and is therefore remanding the cases for further development.

The Veteran's cause of death, glioblastoma multiforme, is not considered to be related to service or any in-service exposures.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed right hip condition, finding that it is not related to his period of service or caused by his service-connected lumbar spine disorder and resultant radiculopathy.

The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, finding that it did not have its onset during service or was otherwise related to military service.

The Board denied the appeal because the Appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal to address her claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, despite receiving a Statement of the Case and having 60 days from the date of mailing to file a VA Form 9. The RO notified her that her appeal was untimely.

The Veteran has disputed the overpayment of VA disability compensation and requested a waiver. The debt was created when his VA benefits were retroactively terminated due to being a fugitive felon. The issue of the validity of the debt must be addressed before considering the waiver request.

The Veteran's claim for retroactive award of additional compensation for dependents was denied because he did not provide updated dependency information, and the RO made its decision based on the correct facts as they were known at the time.