Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's son, W.G.H., was removed from her list of dependents due to his enrollment at an educational institution. The Board is remanding the case for further development regarding whether CPR & More meets the criteria to be recognized as an 'approved educational institution' by VA.

The Board has remanded the claim for further review of additional evidence, and it will be considered again by the AOJ.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding in-service symptoms. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his skin condition is related to service.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with the February 2018 remand directives and has ordered further development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current neck disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for the residuals of an injury to his right index finger is granted as he has established a present disability, in-service incurrence or aggravation, and causal relationship.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's fibromyalgia. The claims for high cholesterol and vision disorder remain denied.

The Board denied the Appellant's request for an earlier effective date of August 10, 2011 for the grant of service connection for the Veteran’s cause of death. The decision found that the earliest possible effective date was the date the reopened claim was received (August 11, 2010).

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of child support payments from the Veteran, and requests additional information regarding the Veteran's financial situation.

The Board denied service connection for right thumb amputation, finding that the amputation is not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal for DIC due to the Veteran's widow indicating she would like to withdraw her appeal. The accrued benefits claim was denied as there were no unpaid benefits due and payable between April 1, 2015 and February 15, 2017. The case is remanded for further development regarding last expenses.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or the result of service, and VA did not cause his death through negligence. The Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, and DIC.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia to his in-service radiation exposure. The VA is required to conduct further development and provide a medical opinion.

The Veteran's mental health disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, and for consideration of a TDIU claim. The rating for the mental health disability remains at 70 percent.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an effective date of April 14, 2015, for a 10% increased rating for iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of unpaid medical expenses from October 23 to 25, 2014 at Baptist Medical Center is denied as VA cannot reimburse veterans under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1725 for any copayment, deductible, coinsurance, or similar payment that the veteran owes the third party or is obligated to pay under a health-plan contract.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left leg, left foot, and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right foot scar and low back disability claims before a decision was made.

The Veteran's TMJ syndrome was previously rated at 20 percent, but from July 19, 2017, a higher 30 percent rating is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin disorder. The VA examiner did not consider the Veteran's lay testimony and instead relied on the absence of evidence in his service treatment records.