Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's discharge was under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct. The Board found no indication of insanity at the time of the offenses, thus denying VA benefits.

The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease, S/P total gastrectomy, was rated at 60 percent from May 6, 2014. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were met and granted an increased disability rating.

The Board found that the overpayment of $12,379.97 was validly created and not solely due to VA error, thus denying the benefit sought.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left hip disorders, finding that the Veteran's current hip conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's emphysema disability is being remanded for additional examination and rating consideration due to the duration of time since his last VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for left elbow, neck, and respiratory disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right fourth metacarpal strain, finding that there is no current disability related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma related disorder is rated at 50 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that esophageal cancer was not related to his military service or presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's service is not deemed to be qualifying service for death pension benefits, thus denying the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's Reiter's syndrome and his service, including exposure to herbicides. The VA examiner did not consider all relevant evidence and lay statements.

The Veteran's NSC pension benefits were terminated and later reduced due to unreported income, which was identified through Income Verification Match (IVM) and tax returns. The decision is denied as the termination and reduction of benefits based on unreported income was proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not provide sufficient evidence to support a claim for burial benefits. The appeal is denied.

The appellant's claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits was denied as the surviving spouse had a higher priority and received the full amount of $300. The Board acknowledged the appellant's costs but could not grant benefits due to legal authority.

The Veteran's claim for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and VA compensation benefits is granted, effective May 28, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic ear infections and right ear drum perforation, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of OCD and granted it, finding that there is a current diagnosis of OCD and evidence linking it to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for Hodgkin's disease and TDIU due to service-connected disability. A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected disability, including any residuals from prior treatment.

The Veteran's Raynaud’s disease is remanded due to increased severity of symptoms, including daily attacks and digital ulcers. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity.