Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of notice regarding income, net worth, and medical expense information for the appeal period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for diverticulitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of diverticulitis that began during active service and continues to persist after service. However, the issues regarding right shoulder disability and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right elbow lateral epicondylitis is related to his service. The Veteran needs updated medical records and a new opinion from a clinician.

The Board has denied an effective date prior to July 22, 2010 for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's acute myeloblastic leukemia was related to his service, including herbicide agent exposure. The VA must provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the appellant did not provide evidence of a pending claim for VA compensation or pension benefits. The appeal is denied as there are no legal grounds to award burial benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of mesothelioma has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right lower extremities DVT disorders are granted with a 10 percent rating effective April 18, 2014.

The Veteran did not have any pending claims at the time of his death, and therefore, the criteria for accrued benefits are not met.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities. The claim for service connection for a back injury remains denied as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's toenail fungus, including a diagnosis of onychomycosis, is related to service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for non-service-connected pension benefits, finding that the earliest document received by VA was a form appointing the Veteran's representative on August 29, 2012. The Board concluded that this did not constitute receipt of the original claim and thus denied the request.

The Veteran's condition was severe enough that he needed immediate medical attention, and VA facilities were not feasibly available to treat him. The Board granted payment or reimbursement for the unauthorized medical expenses incurred at SMDH on April 15, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound due to his failure to report for VA examinations. The Veteran is required to attend a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for stroke with cerebral aneurysm, subarachnoid hemorrhage, coiling and brain injury habilitation due to exposure to environmental hazards during Gulf War service. The evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an advisory medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, including whether it is related to his service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits as he did not have qualifying active military service for VA nonservice-connected pension benefit purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for clarification regarding the Veteran's service creditability for Chapter 33 benefits. The appellant is seeking education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Veteran's service connection claim for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for a new VA examination.