Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issues of whether the reduction of special monthly compensation (SMC) was proper and entitlement to a higher level of SMC in excess of housebound status for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder and nerve pain in extremities due to a lack of adequate examination regarding their etiology. The Veteran needs further VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to service, including Gulf War exposure.

The Board has not found substantial evidence of asbestos exposure during service and thus the claim for a respiratory disability, including as due to asbestos exposure, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to potential administrative error in creating an overpayment of VA compensation benefits.

The Board has denied service connection for a left hip condition and a left lower leg condition, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The veteran's service was less than 90 days during a period of war, thus he does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Barrett’s esophagus is remanded due to confusion over the issues on appeal and the need for further development of his gastrointestinal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected residuals of a right hand wound due to incomplete development. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's appeal for payment of nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied because he failed to provide adequate verification of income and net worth during the relevant period on appeal.

The Veteran died from natural causes and was not receiving VA compensation or pension at the time of his death. The Board found that none of the criteria for payment of nonservice-connected burial benefits were met, thus denying the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current peripheral vascular disease is related to service, specifically his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Additional development including obtaining private and VA medical records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA physician are needed.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a dental disorder, cracked and chipped teeth as secondary to PTSD due to lack of proper consideration of bruxism (involuntary clenching or grinding of teeth) related to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a nose disability, to include residuals of nasal surgery is remanded due to conflicting evidence. The Board finds that an additional medical opinion is needed to determine the etiology of his current nasal issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the Veteran not receiving a VA examination for his eye disorder, which is related to service exposure. The Veteran's vision condition needs further evaluation and opinion regarding its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an in-person VA examination.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to incomplete opinions regarding a delay in diagnosis and carelessness, negligence or similar fault on the part of VA.

The Board's March 2015 decision granting improved death pension benefits for a surviving child was not appealed to the Court, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Veteran's Barrett's esophagus has been rated as non-compensable. The Board finds that further development is needed to determine the current severity of his condition and whether a higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's malunion of the bilateral mandible is granted a 20 percent rating, effective October 12, 2010. The hearing loss ratings remain unchanged.

Service connection is granted for insomnia disorder as secondary to service-connected PTSD with depressive disorder. Service connection is remanded for the jaw condition.