Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for a deviated septum, finding that the Veteran's current condition is etiologically linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 11, 2012 for the grant of service connection for scoliosis of the thoracic spine is denied. The case is remanded due to a need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in calculating the appellant's income and expenses, which were not properly considered during the initial decision. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected hypopigmentation vitiligo is rated at 60 percent since October 31, 2013. Prior to that date, the rating was denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board denied DIC benefits for cause of death.,Death pension benefits were also denied as the Veteran did not serve during a period of war.

The appellant withdrew her appeal seeking recognition as a valid substitute claimant, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right hip disability and increased ratings for left femur fracture with bursitis, left thigh impairment, and left thigh limitation of flexion. The decision found that the right hip arthritis was not caused by or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for leukemia and DIC benefits based on the cause of death due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service. The claim for DIC under Section 1318 was also denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for continuous total disability at the time of his death.

The Veteran's right little finger disability, which includes a fracture with residual strain, was found to not meet the criteria for a compensable rating due to noncompensable limitation of motion and no arthritis. The maximum noncompensable rating under DC 5230 is assigned.

The appeal on the issue of TDIU is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder, including emphysema, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or any in-service exposure. The preponderance of the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's respiratory issues are not related to his time in service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as her application was not received within one year after her mother's death, and she does not qualify as a child of the Veteran for VA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral episcleritis is rated as noncompensable, and he seeks a higher rating due to worsening symptoms. The Board finds that additional development is necessary before the claim can be adjudicated on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's unreimbursed medical expenses, which may affect his pension benefits. The Veteran is asked to provide details of these expenses.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for esophageal cancer, finding an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence regarding the cause of the condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition due to new and material evidence. However, the issue of whether this condition is related to his military service remains pending as it requires further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing bilateral keratoconus was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for chronic colitis is granted. The claims for service connection for liver condition and respiratory condition due to exposure to herbicide agents are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 21, 2012 for the award of service connection for a psychiatric disability. The Veteran's claim was denied in July 2012 due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between his current disability and military service. However, a May 2012 VA examination established such a nexus.