Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for additional dependency benefits due to J.B.'s full-time school attendance at Pierce College was denied because the first written claim after the initial denial was received more than a year later, which is not within the one-year period allowed by regulation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and a need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's sinus disorder.

The appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance is dismissed due to a withdrawal by the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including a meniscal tear and ACL injury, has been rated at 20 percent since March 30, 2009.

The Board dismissed the appeal for death pension benefits prior to November 2, 2016 as there was no surviving qualified claimant.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is found to be the cause or aggravation of his current bilateral eye disability, including retinal stroke and vision loss residuals. The claim for service connection is granted. However, the claims for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to treatment at the Houston VAMC from September 2004 through August 2005 is remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred by the Veteran at St. Joseph’s Medical Center (SJMC) from July 17, 2016 to October 8, 2016 was denied because it was not filed within 90 days after the Veteran's discharge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a tumor, syncope, loss of teeth, cardiovascular disorder, aneurysm, and cerebral arteriosclerosis are all denied as they do not meet the criteria for direct service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection is granted for cardiovascular disorder based on presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg condition, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability and no in-service injury or disease related to his legs.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the case and there are no issues to decide.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye pterygium is remanded due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination in September 2017.

The Board has decided that the Appellant's claim of accrued benefits is remanded due to missing evidence submitted by her to Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. The Board requests reasonable efforts to obtain this evidence and determine if the Appellant can be substituted for the Veteran with regard to his pension benefits decision.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is dismissed as the Veteran's claim was moot because his service-connected disabilities were already rated at 100%.

The Board has remanded the case due to duty-to-assist errors and issues related to service connection for a heart disability, including septal hypokinesis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation, and aortic regurgitation. The earlier effective date issue is also inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left eye uveitis was denied. The case is remanded to consider entitlement to extraschedular ratings and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for pulmonary fibrosis, including as due to in-service herbicide agent exposure, should be remanded. The AOJ did not obtain a VA examination prior to the June 2019 rating decision on appeal regarding whether the claimed pulmonary fibrosis had its onset during service or was otherwise related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for primary lateral sclerosis, leaving only the new amyotrophic lateral sclerosis claim.

The Veteran's emergency room visit at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville for pneumonia, pleurisy, chest pain, back pain and rib pain is considered timely and eligible for payment or reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma-related disorder is rated at 50 percent for the period prior to November 12, 2015.