Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's daughter, the appellant, is granted VA burial transportation reimbursement of $525 for transporting her father's remains to a national cemetery.

The Board granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for service connected schizoaffective disorder from June 1, 2009 to August 10, 2013 and denied an increased rating. The effective date for the award of service connection was set at May 11, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TMD was denied in July 2009. He filed an intent to file a claim on February 13, 2017 and a formal application to reopen his claim on February 12, 2018. The effective date of the award is granted as of February 13, 2017.

The Veteran died in July 2018 and had no pending claims for VA benefits at the time of his death. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits as he was not receiving any VA compensation or pension, nor was he discharged from active service due to a disability incurred in line of duty.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if an overpayment of nonservice-connected pension benefits was validly created and to ascertain the effective date for any reduction or discontinuance due to an increase in countable income.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on the relationship between service-connected conditions and his death. The Board requires a VA medical opinion to determine if any service-connected condition contributed to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right hip disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on June 26, 2018 is denied as he did not receive care under VA's Chapter 17 within the 24 months prior to his private hospitalization.

The Veteran's multiple myeloma is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a temporary total rating due to back surgery, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's death in January 2013 prevented the appellant from receiving accrued benefits as his estate met the asset criteria for special monthly pension, and he did not meet the income criteria.

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

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for back injury and has determined that he is entitled to this benefit based on evidence showing a relationship between his in-service injury and current condition.

The Board has granted service connection for dizziness as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence of a relationship between the two conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his postoperative fusion of the left fifth toe was denied. The Board also determined that from April 30, 2013 to April 1, 2016, he met the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the issue of whether the overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits in the amount of $1,837.00 was properly created due to a change in dependency status is intertwined with the waiver claim and must be addressed first.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a deviated septum as there is no current disability, and the evidence does not establish that the condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's mother, Y.J.S., is found to be a dependent parent and eligible for additional compensation benefits due to her reasonable maintenance needs.

The Veteran's left heel spur condition is rated at a 10 percent disability rating throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits was waived due to financial hardship and the creation of undue debt, despite some fault on his part. The decision is not about service connection.