Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for metastatic adenocarcinoma, including colon, liver, lungs, and brain cancer, was dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right upper extremity nerve damage, as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left inguinal herniorrhaphy, is denied because he does not have a current disability related to such.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and therefore the appellant is denied burial benefits.

The Veteran is granted a disability evaluation of 70 percent for panic disorder with agoraphobia prior to August 15, 2018. The issue of an earlier effective date for the 70 percent rating remains on appeal.

The Veteran requested the withdrawal of her appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to December 27, 2016. The Board dismissed this issue as it did not have jurisdiction due to the request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's service-connected follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is granted a 100% disability rating from January 1, 2019 to July 17, 2019. The appeal for a compensable rating for NHL beyond that period is remanded.

The Veteran's death was not recognized as a surviving spouse due to the divorce between the appellant and the Veteran prior to his death, which is considered a bar to eligibility for VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and lack of evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to toxic metals during service. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s current prostate disorder was not caused or aggravated by his active service, including exposure to toxic metals while working as a mechanic for 19 years.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits because her son, who was receiving compensation as a helpless child of a deceased Veteran, did not qualify as a Veteran and therefore VA could not provide burial benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for payment or reimbursement of medical services received at Swedish Medical Center due to lack of authorization from VA and failure to meet emergency treatment criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a brain tumor and its residuals is granted, as new evidence has been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim. Service connection is also granted for his diagnosed malignant neoplasm of cerebellum NOS (also diagnosed as diffuse fibrillary astrocytoma).

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and requests for updated financial information. The Veteran's and appellant's SSA income information needs to be verified, and they need to complete Financial Status Reports.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at San Juan Regional Spine Center due to lack of prior authorization and because the treatment was not an emergent condition.

The Board denied the claim that E. Y.'s assisted living expenses should be considered an unreimbursed medical expense for purposes of computing her nonservice-connected death pension benefits, as there was no evidence showing she had a medical condition necessitating her need to live in an assisted living facility.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left hip replacement has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of bilateral lower extremities, finding that no pending claims existed prior to August 5, 2016.

The Board denied service connection for a right hand condition, including arthritis, as it was not related to service or the Veteran's service-connected right little finger disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye drusen with visual acuity loss, but denied service connection for left eye cataract.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's atrial fibrillation and squamous carcinoma.