Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the appeal.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for a higher rating for loss of use of left hand, status post radial/carpal joint fusion with residual muscle atrophy of forearm.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the overpayment of $24,068.00 created by the award action on October 8, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and adjudication due to the need for clarification of medical opinions regarding the Veteran's rectal cancer, including its relation to his exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date earlier than March 1, 2015 for adding his spouse to his VA compensation award. The decision stated that no CUE was found in any prior rating decisions and that the Veteran did not provide notice of his marriage within one year after each rating action.

The Veteran's request for waiver of overpayment was not timely filed, and therefore the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's current endocarditis was initially manifested within one year of separation from service, and the Board has determined that his heart disability is likely to have been manifested to a compensable degree in 1959. Therefore, the appeal for service connection on a presumptive basis under VA regulations has been granted.

The Veteran's widow is seeking payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his terminal hospitalization. The case has been remanded to obtain necessary documentation and clarification of the Veteran's enrollment status in VA healthcare.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, pancreatic cancer, was not caused by or a result of his service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma is related to his military service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal tract carcinoma is related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for urticaria and elevated liver enzymes and right hepatic hemangioma, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to her service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's stroke residuals were rated at a 10 percent disability rating prior to December 27, 2016. Effective December 27, 2016, the Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for his neurocognitive disorder.,For the period from December 30, 2008 to November 18, 2015, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's widow was granted an allowance for SMP based on the need for aid and attendance, effective November 23, 2010. She died in March 2011, leaving unpaid $5,280.00 in accrued benefits due to her pension with aid and attendance benefit. The appellant is seeking additional reimbursement for expenses incurred during his mother's last illness and burial, but the appeal is denied as there are no additional accrued benefits available.

The Board has determined that additional resolution is required to determine if there is a remaining debt in controversy or if the Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWAC) has or will waive the debt. If there is still a debt, the Veteran must be provided with a hearing before a member of the Board at the RO.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic adjustment disorder is dismissed as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the original July 2004 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for osteoporosis-related conditions, including rib fractures and esophageal stricture, as well as GERD and esophageal strictures, were denied. The appeal is not about service connection but rather the merits of these disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her facial neuralgia and broken right pelvis was denied by the Board. The current rating of 10 percent for the facial neuralgia is appropriate given the severity of symptoms, which are described as mild to moderate.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.