Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits as his body was not held by a State or admitted to a VA facility for examination, treatment, or care.

The Board has decided that the evidence is insufficient to determine if the Veteran's hepatic steatosis is related to service, specifically exposure at Camp Lejeune. The case is being sent back for further development and an addendum opinion from a subject matter expert.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for residuals of a lower back injury before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney condition (enuresis) in an October 24, 1968 rating decision. The Veteran's enuresis was considered a symptom and not a disability under the VA benefits system of that time.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's liver disability, specifically whether it was caused by his service-connected PTSD and/or alcohol abuse.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to receiving VA benefits. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's net worth of $102,600 is considered excessive for the receipt of pension benefits due to his income and life expectancy.

The Board denied initial compensable ratings for hammertoes of the left and right feet, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not warrant such a rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's meningioma or brain tumor, including whether it is related to service, particularly herbicide agent exposure. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for congenital fusion of C2-3 and degenerative changes at C6-7 with claimed paresthesia, left hand, to include as secondary to IVDS is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's congenital cervical disability has been aggravated by his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's dementia is found to be proximately due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the claim for secondary service connection for dementia is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues related to contested claims involving the five younger siblings of the Veteran's widow. The appeal is not about service connection for a condition, but rather the cause of death.

The veteran's service is not considered qualifying for non-service connected pension benefits because it does not meet the required 90-day threshold of active duty during a period of war. The veteran did not serve in any declared war periods.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an apportionment of the Veteran’s VA benefits on behalf of S.S. due to lack of financial hardship and because T.S. was residing with the Veteran.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection issues were decided.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if any current cervical spine disability is related to service, specifically an in-service injury or event.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the Veteran's in-service rash and its connection to his current skin condition. A new VA examination is required to determine if there is a link between the Veteran's service and his current fungal infection.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether pre-existing infertility and dysmenorrhea were aggravated during service, as per the October 2016 Board remand directives.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral degraded vision and right hand numbness, weakness, and restricted use as there is no current disability related to the Veteran's cervical spine injury. The Veteran has been granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and associated upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claim for recognition of A.G. as his 'helpless child' on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 has been reopened due to new and material evidence, but further development is needed to obtain missing records from A.G.'s schooling and SSA.