Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board denied the appellant's claim as she did not meet the legal criteria to establish status as the deceased Veteran’s surviving spouse for purposes of VA benefits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for a bilateral lower extremity hamstring injury and right foot bunion, effectively dismissing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected hysterectomy is granted a 50 percent initial rating, which is the highest available under VA regulations.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his metastases to lung and bone due to cholangiocarcinoma was caused by herbicide agent exposure during service. The Board also found that his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II may have contributed to his death.

The Board found that the reduction in VA disability compensation for FY 2016 to recoup military drill pay was proper, and denied the appeal.

The Board has vacated the portion of its September 19, 2018 decision denying an earlier effective date for a TDIU and remanded the case to obtain information about the Veteran's income during the period from October 2011 to October 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma was granted with an effective date of February 14, 2018.

The Veteran's cause of death from myocardial infarction is not service-connected, and the claim for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the head, neck, and tonsils due to exposure to herbicide agents. The case is now remanded for a VA examination to determine if the cancer is related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for fallen arches and flatfoot, as well as his claim for a left foot disorder (hallux valgus). The remand is necessary to verify the Veteran’s complete periods of active duty, obtain all available service treatment records, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA purposes due to their divorce in December 1984 and lack of remarriage at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to determine if any of the Veteran's diagnosed vision disabilities are related to his service, including environmental exposures in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was in receipt of death pension with aid and attendance at the time of her death. There were no unpaid VA benefits due at the time of her death, thus accrued benefits are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disability for teeth numbered 6 and 9 for both compensation purposes and outpatient treatment purposes due to lack of evidence showing in-service trauma or qualifying disabilities.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of the recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits was timely filed, but the case is being remanded due to issues with the timing and clarity of communications regarding the debt.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E benefits was denied as he does not have an employment handicap and is therefore not in need of rehabilitation.

The Veteran's spouse is receiving the maximum DIC benefits possible due to her status as a surviving spouse with no minor children and additional benefits for aid and attendance. The Board finds that there are no grounds for increasing these benefits.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of funds for VA benefits purposes, and the appeal is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend his delimiting date for DEA benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code due to him being over age 31 at the time of requesting an extension. The appeal is not about service connection.