Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's spouse requested an extension of the delimiting date for DEA benefits due to a physical or mental disability preventing her from initiating or completing a chosen program of education. The VA denied the request as she did not provide sufficient medical evidence showing specific dates during which she was unable to attend school.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hand disability, diagnosed as tendonitis, began in service and has persisted since then. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not provide evidence of a pending claim for VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of his death. The Veteran died while in hospice care and had no other qualifying circumstances to receive nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The appellant's claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits in excess of $300.00 and a plot or interment allowance in excess of $722.00 is denied as the criteria for such awards are not met.

The Veteran's income exceeds the maximum allowable income limit for VA purposes, and therefore he is not entitled to nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cyst of the left breast does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's daughter was not permanently incapable of self-support at the age of 18 due to her pre-existing arteriovenous malformation, which incapacitated her after she turned 18. The court denied recognition as a helpless child based on permanent incapacity of self-support.

The Veteran's left eye blindness is being remanded for additional development due to the need for an addendum medical opinion regarding whether a possible VA administrative error caused his condition.

The Board denied the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits as the appellant's countable income exceeded the applicable maximum annual pension rates (MAPRs) for a surviving spouse with no dependents since her husband's death.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim for recognition as a child of the Veteran on the basis that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim, specifically because it did not show that the Appellant was permanently incapable of self-support before attaining the age of 18 years.

The Board has granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma on the chest, back, and left lower extremity as it is at least as likely as not due to the Veteran's active naval service.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with dysthymia is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to her current occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's generalized fatigue and sleep disturbances are attributed to his service-connected PTSD, chondromalacia of the right knee, left knee strain associated with the right knee disability, and other diagnosed conditions. Therefore, service connection for these symptoms is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for nodular sclerosing Hodgkin’s disease with myelodysplastic syndrome is granted, and the effective date is set at June 24, 2008.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a back injury due to new and material evidence received since the final August 1983 rating decision.

The Veteran's stomach and bowel symptoms have been attributed to a clinical diagnosis of diverticulosis, which is not related to his active duty service or service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's urinary condition is related to his service-connected penile injury and scar.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is already receiving the maximum monthly DIC entitlement amount, which is set by law. Therefore, her claim for an increased rating of DIC is denied.

The Board has not adjudicated the issue of whether the debt created from the simultaneous payment of DIC and SBP was validly created. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating more than 10 percent for residuals of a left index finger injury was denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or functional impairment such that no effective function remains other than what would be equally well served by an amputation or prosthesis.