Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing records and a need for a VA examination. The Veteran's neurological disorders, including Guillain-Barre syndrome, quadriparesis, trigeminal neuralgia, and neurogenic bladder, are being reviewed in light of potential Agent Orange exposure.

The case is being remanded due to a conflict in the interpretation of 38 U.S.C. § 1725 and the need for further development regarding the Veteran's medical expenses.

The Veteran's burial costs were incurred by the appellant, who is his mother. The Board granted service-connected burial benefits to the appellant based on her having incurred the costs of the funeral and cremation.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to nerve damage in his lower back and extremities caused by cholesterol medication is being remanded as the VA medical opinion provided was inadequate.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new examination regarding her anemia, which may affect her disability rating.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an extension of her delimiting date for DEA benefits beyond October 29, 2018, based on the provisions of law regarding circumstances in which the delimiting date may be extended.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to an in-service injury or disease, including exposure to herbicides and thimerosal.

The Board has granted service connection for post bunionectomy of the right foot and bilateral foot disorder with resection of metatarsal, finding that these conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and heart conditions are related to his service, specifically exposure to asbestos. The appellant is seeking service connection for her husband's cause of death.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's blindness or legal blindness may be related to an in-service eye injury during combat on Iwo Jima, but needs further examination to determine this.

The Board has granted service connection for small bowel obstruction, finding that it is as likely as not related to the Veteran's service-connected right nephrectomy.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic entitlement to VA death benefits because her husband did not have qualifying military service in the Philippines, as determined by the Department of the Army and NPRC.

The Board denied service connection for contusion of the left hand, finding that there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Hodgkin's disease is denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete calculation of unreimbursed medical expenses, which could affect the Appellant's income eligibility for survivor pension benefits. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further investigation and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurologic disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), finding that there was no evidence of such condition in service or within one year post-service and no causal relationship between current symptoms and military service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected left femur disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the criteria set forth for a compensable rating are not met in all cases.

The Veteran's son was notified that his claim for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits could not be approved because there was no evidence showing that the Veteran had been approved for the transferability program or that he had transferred any months of eligibility to any dependents. The appeal is denied as there is no showing that the service department approved a request from the Veteran for a transfer of educational assistance benefits.

The Veteran's death occurred before the eligibility criteria for a government-furnished headstone or marker were established, and thus he is not eligible for such benefits.

The Veteran's application for Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) was timely filed, as evidenced by a letter submitted on his behalf in March 2015. The Board found that the evidence contradicted the RO's claim that no application was received in March 2015.