Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's son is granted reimbursement for $790 in transportation expenses related to his nonservice-connected burial.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals of his right and left hands due to a duty to assist error in obtaining missing service records. The Veteran is entitled to an examination to determine if he currently has residuals from cold injuries, and any etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected left fifth metacarpal fracture is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in the previous examination.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is denied VA death pension benefits as the Appellant remarried within two months of the Veteran's death, which disqualifies her from receiving these benefits.

The Board has decided that the overpayment of VA compensation benefits in the amount of $162.00 was improperly created and has ordered a paid and due audit to determine the basis of the overpayment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected right-foot injury should be remanded to allow the AOJ to consider additional VA medical center records.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The private medical report provided a nexus between the Veteran's pancreatic cancer and his exposure to herbicides, leading to the conclusion that it is at least as likely as not that the cancer was caused by the herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was caused by a subdural hematoma due to an accidental fall at home, with chronic alcoholism as the contributing cause. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sickle cell trait and anemia in remission are not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service, and a remand is required for further examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was caused by his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, which contributed substantially or materially to his colon cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, including as due to herbicide agent exposure, is being remanded. The case will be reviewed after obtaining the Veteran's private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and evidence regarding the Veteran's pleural plaques. The issues of increased rating for pleural plaques and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no service connection was granted.

The Veteran's left hip treatment at Community Memorial Hospital on July 6, 2016 is covered by VA as it met the criteria for emergency medical care in a non-VA facility due to his condition being considered a medical emergency and no feasible VA option was available.

The Veteran's arthritis of the thoracic spine is rated at 40 percent prior to March 11, 2019, and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board has also granted separate 20 percent ratings for RLE and LLE radiculopathy since August 3, 2018. Service connection for left leg restless leg syndrome is remanded as it is claimed as secondary to service-connected arthritis of the thoracic spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TMJ, residuals of stroke, and gastrointestinal disability to include acid reflux as secondary to service-connected anxiety due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating require additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding her HPV condition and headaches.

The Veteran's child, A.P., is being evaluated for recognition as the helpless child of the Veteran due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching 18 years old. Further development is needed to determine if A.P.'s disability meets this criterion.

The Board has granted a higher rate of payment of nonservice-connected pension benefits in the amount of $170.00 per month from February 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016.