Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA examination and a need for a supplemental opinion.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the benefit sought on appeal (entitlement to Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA)) has been granted by the RO, resulting in a full grant of the benefit.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to vascular dementia, finding that there was no causal link between his service-connected disabilities and his death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's colon cancer is related to his service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and treatment for gastroenteritis and dizzy spells. The examiner will also review records of any claimed shingles treatment during service and assess whether it caused or aggravated the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings have been denied as there is no free-standing claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection.

The Veteran's neurocardiogenic syncope is rated as 20 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8108 (narcolepsy). The Board finds that remand is warranted to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right sacroiliitis was previously rated at 10 percent prior to November 14, 2016 and increased to 20 percent thereafter. The Board has remanded the issues for further development.,For the period prior to November 14, 2016, a higher rating is not warranted as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for immune deficiency syndrome, finding that the condition began during active service and is related to in-service symptoms.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo additional examinations and obtain updated medical records in order to properly adjudicate his claims of service connection for right leg length discrepancy, initial compensable ratings for arthritis of the left foot, and arthritis of the right foot.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to a service-connected myocardial infarction, and the claim for an earlier effective date is denied as he has already been awarded the earliest possible effective date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development regarding his PTSD claim and earlier effective date for atrial fibrillation.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his service-connected disabilities impacted his ability to avoid the fatal explosion.

The Board has vacated the April 2018 decision denying service connection for CLL and has remanded the case due to VA not obtaining all relevant private medical records from Mexico.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right hand injury was reopened and granted. The increased rating claims for the right shoulder disabilities were denied, but the TDIU claim from March 10, 2014 was granted.,The Veteran is still not entitled to an increased rating for his right shoulder disabilities as they do not meet the criteria under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hydrocephalus is remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, as well as a hearing before a decision review officer.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for both the earlier effective date claim and the SMC claim. The Veteran's case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is denied because his unit was not present in the Korean DMZ during the required time frame for presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is due to his service-connected conditions, specifically CAD and myocardial infarction. The Board found that these conditions are presumptively related to his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied DIC benefits because the appellant and the Veteran were legally separated for 16 years, which is not considered continuous cohabitation. The separation was due to incompatibility reasons.