Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right side of the neck, finding no direct evidence linking it to service. The claim was also not supported by exposure to ionizing radiation or environmental hazards in the Gulf.

The Veteran's condition of Barrett's esophagus has worsened, requiring more frequent dilations and affecting his ability to eat. The Board finds that a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the condition.

The Board has determined that additional procedural and evidentiary development is required before a decision on the merits can be reached. The claim will be remanded to allow for consideration of all submitted Supporting Statements Regarding Marriage, including one from P.S.

The Veteran's appeal for payment of unauthorized medical expenses incurred in July 2016 was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, as the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses at Saint Thomas West Hospital from September 23, 2014 to October 1, 2014 is remanded due to the need to clarify whether payment has been granted and to obtain missing attachments.

The Veteran's surviving spouse died in April 2014, and the Appellant is her adult daughter. The Appellant has already been reimbursed $9,518.31 for expenses related to her last sickness and burial. She is not entitled to additional reimbursement because these expenses are considered last sickness and burial expenses.

The Veteran's death was not related to his service-connected conditions, and he did not receive VA pension or disability compensation. Therefore, the claim for burial benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to issues with obtaining relevant medical records. The appellant is seeking these benefits as a substitute claimant.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, but the VA did not provide a sufficient medical opinion to support this conclusion. The death pension claim is also remanded due to incomplete information provided by the Appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral foot calluses have been withdrawn and are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for burned left retina as there is no evidence of a current disability nor an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA examiner's opinion and because of the need for an addendum opinion considering the relevant evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate factual premise in a previous VA examiner's opinion and because the legal standard used by the examiner is incorrect. The Veteran's right leg disability, including a leg length discrepancy, may have existed prior to service but it needs to be determined if it was aggravated during service or related to service.

The Veteran's daughter is denied accrued benefits as there were no due and payable compensation benefits at the time of her father's death.

The Board found that the Veteran was not reasonably discharging his responsibility to support his dependent children, B.K.C. and C.A.C., during the relevant period on appeal. As a result, the apportionment of $100 per month for their benefit is restored.

The Board denied service connection for tubulovillous adenoma, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a myocardial infarction is denied due to lack of fault on the part of VA in providing medical treatment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's drill pay for fiscal years 2010, 2012, and 2014 should be verified as received or not. The AOJ is instructed to contact DFAS or other appropriate agencies to verify this information.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The gynecological disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his acute myeloid leukemia did not have its onset during or soon after service and is not related to any in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board found no evidence linking the leukemia to herbicide exposure or benzene from fuel use.