Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain relevant medical records and determine the appropriate disability ratings for the Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities. The claims are being remanded to allow for this process.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the appellant meets the financial requirements for survivor pension benefits.

The Board has granted a 20 percent apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits prior to June [Redacted], 2013, on behalf of their child H.L., and also granted an apportionment of the full amount of VA disability compensation benefits not paid to the Veteran during his incarceration.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death during the pendency of the appeal, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities qualify him for special monthly compensation based on a higher level of aid and attendance under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r). However, the need for personal health-care services provided by a licensed professional or supervised by one is unclear from his treating physician's letter. The Board has therefore remanded to determine this requirement.

The Veteran's service was not considered active duty for the purposes of pension eligibility due to her discharge from active duty service not being a result of a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim as she did not meet the criteria for basic entitlement for pension.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for adenocarcinoma of the right cheek with residuals, including scar (also claimed as adenoid cystic carcinoma), but denied the claim due to lack of a causal link between the condition and military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hand arthritis and whether it is related to his service-connected right middle finger disability. The case will be reviewed again with additional examination.

The Veteran is granted an initial rating of 10 percent for lichen planus of the penis from September 1, 2008 to November 6, 2015 and a maximum rating of 60 percent from November 6, 2015. The Veteran also receives SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) for loss of use of creative organ.

The Board has granted service connection for a right elbow condition and assigned a rating of 40 percent (but not higher) for the Veteran's right ulnar neuropathy prior to July 12, 2017. From July 12, 2017 until present, the Veteran is rated at 10 percent for his right ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran's SMC for loss of use of his left foot is granted beginning April 3, 2015. The claim for prior to this date remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate June 2014 VA examination report, and a new medical opinion is needed to determine if breast cancer (and its residuals) are related to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection issues are addressed.

The Veteran's claim for compensable service connection for a dental condition manifested by missing upper and lower front teeth has been denied. The issue of an earlier effective date for this condition is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to May 24, 2016, for the grant of service connection for bowel incontinence and bladder incontinence as there was no evidence showing these conditions were related to his low back disability before that date.

The Veteran's claim for retroactive payment of benefits for additional dependents was denied as he did not submit the necessary information within the specified timeframe and failed to inform VA about his older children who were attending school.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic laryngeal cancer and septicemia, but there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's loss of teeth is not due to a loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible during service, so his claim for service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes is denied.

The Veteran's cold induced urticaria was denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating from October 1, 2008 to October 5, 2018 and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a stroke with residuals of right-sided hemiparesis has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The eligibility for an automobile and adaptive equipment grant has also been dismissed.