Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hand tremor as there was no evidence of chronic symptoms related to the condition during or after service, and the current diagnosis is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he cannot receive more than 48 months of VA educational assistance benefits under a combination of the Chapter 30, Chapter 31, and Post-9/11 GI Bill programs. The AOJ terminated his entitlement to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits due to exhaustion of his entitlement.

The Board has denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death. The appeal regarding burial benefits, plot or interment allowance, and transportation reimbursement in excess of $1,944.00 is remanded as a statement of the case has not yet been issued.

The Veteran did not have any pending claims at the time of his death, so he could not be entitled to accrued benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death due to AML and myelodysplastic syndrome, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's current pulmonary fibrosis is found to be the result of in-service exposure to chemicals and particles as an aircraft structures mechanic. The claim for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for herpes simplex virus 2 was granted with an effective date of May 10, 2008. The decision is based on new evidence submitted after the initial denial in August 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals regarding termination of VA additional compensation benefits due to removal of a spouse, M., as of July 1, 2013, and addition of a spouse, L., to the award of VA compensation benefits prior to September 1, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear communication regarding the waiver issue, and will reconsider whether a waiver of recovery is warranted for the overpayment of VA pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees was granted initial 10 percent disability evaluations for the rating period prior to June 29, 2015. The increased ratings were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-herpetic neuralgia was not caused by or aggravated by VA treatment, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's left eye disability is being remanded for clarification of the causation requirements due to conflicting opinions regarding foreseeability.

The Veteran's testicular condition on February 14, 2016 was of such a nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous. The VA hospital was not feasibly available during the emergency and an attempt to use one beforehand would not have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of evidence linking esophageal adenocarcinoma, which caused his death, to active service or service-connected conditions. The claim was not reopened as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to the need for new examinations and additional development of his records.

The Board denied the appeal for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Survivor’s pension, and/or accrued benefits due to an untimely substantive appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in calculating medical expenses for the period from March 31, 2015, through February 1, 2017. The RO must provide a clear explanation of how these expenses were calculated and ensure they are correctly accounted for.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected tinnitus and his current loss of balance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of malaria, finding that there is no current diagnosis and no evidence linking his symptoms to active service.

The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both the right and left feet for the Veteran's service-connected third degree burns with intractable plantar keratosis.