Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death benefits claim is denied as VA cannot recognize the appellant as his surviving spouse for purposes of VA compensation or pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment before September 21, 2016. Therefore, the claim for an earlier effective date than September 21, 2016, for a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip strain with stress fracture is a continuation or progression of her in-service injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the February 2016 denial supports reopening of the claim for service connection for recurrent right inguinal hernia. However, the preexisting condition was not aggravated by active service and thus service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at KRMC due to lack of immediate medical attention being hazardous, as her symptoms did not indicate serious health risks.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) before the Board made its decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a back injury due to new and material evidence. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the reopening of the back injury claim.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA care, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA in providing care. The cause of death is attributed to natural progression of PVD.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is being remanded for further review due to the lack of signed consent forms and an examination to determine if it was caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or other fault.

The Board granted a separate 70% disability rating from October 19, 2006 to February 3, 2010, and a 30% disability rating from April 1, 2010 for anemia secondary to uterine fibroids. The effective date of the TDIU determination is also October 19, 2006.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disability, including as due to exposure to tactical herbicidal agents, should be remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's service is not considered a qualifying period of war, and he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear injury due to the need for further evidence, specifically VA treatment records from April 1955 through August 1980. The Veteran is also asked to provide any additional private (non-VA) treatment records.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board found no causal relationship between his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and his skin cancers. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's hysterectomy residuals, sleep disability, and lung disability are not service-connected.,Her lumbar spine disability, right wrist disability, headache disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus remain on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left eye disability that was incurred or aggravated by service, including an injury to his eye from a stick in service. The Veteran's amblyopia and cataract were present prior to service and did not increase in severity during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including an examination to assess the severity of his chronic sprain of right great toe with degenerative joint disease and any flare-ups.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen service connection for a collarbone disorder and spinal subluxation, finding that new evidence supports these claims. However, service connection cannot be established as there is no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Veteran's death benefits have already been paid to the appellant and her siblings, so no further plot allowance can be awarded.