Other conditions decisions — 2019

The rating reduction from 20 percent to 0 percent disabling for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral conjunctivitis was proper as his visual acuity improved and no residuals were noted.

The Veteran's active duty service at the United States Coast Guard Academy is not considered for purposes of Chapter 33 education benefits, and his claim is denied.

The Veteran's active service was from August 1988 to January 1990, and she does not have the requisite type of active service to establish basic eligibility for education benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill). The appeal is denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for all periods on appeal, and therefore her claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits based on countable income was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral joint dysfunction and post-surgery nerve release, is rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2014. The rating will remain unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right 5th finger is remanded due to incomplete records and failure to schedule a DRO hearing. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining necessary authorization forms and scheduling the requested hearing.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to the Veteran's polio/post-polio syndrome claim, including a determination on CUE and whether new evidence supports reopening the claim.

The Board has granted payment or reimbursement for medical expenses of $4,725.56 incurred at Venice Regional Bayfront on April 1, 2015 due to an abscessed tooth emergency.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, colon condition, and skin cancer. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right eye disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for VA death benefits as she did not submit new and material evidence, and there is no indication of a valid common law marriage between the Veteran and the appellant.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether any service-connected disability contributed to or caused his death. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's esophageal cancer was related to herbicide exposure in service.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal for retroactive education benefits under Chapter 35 (DEA) because his Notice of Disagreement was not timely filed, more than one year after he received notification of the denial.

The Veteran's appeal is about the validity of an overpayment of education benefits. The amount in question was $7,701.10. The decision is remanded because there is a discrepancy regarding when the Veteran withdrew from his classes at Art Institute.

The Board has previously considered the claim for TDIU, but there was not substantial compliance with the Board's August 2017 remand directives. The case is being remanded again due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment history and earnings since July 1995.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between the Veteran's active duty service and his cause of death, which was heart failure and amyloid cardiomyopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip extension, right hamstring problems with limitation of right hip flexion, and limitation of right hip abduction as there was no evidence showing that these conditions warranted higher disability ratings under VA’s rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a dental condition is remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected ureterolithiasis and nephrolithiasis have been restored to a 30 percent rating effective August 16, 2017. A higher rating is denied.