Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran did not serve during a period of war, so the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for glioblastoma and cause of death due to possible direct causation by Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran served in Vietnam, and there is a possibility that his glioblastoma may be related to this exposure.

The Veteran's right thumb injury and loss of use of hand were restored to their previous ratings, effective November 1, 2015.

The Board has found that the appellant's character of discharge is based on willful and persistent misconduct, which makes it a bar to VA benefits. The appeal was granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected amblyopia of the right eye is granted, with a rating of 30 percent effective from February 26, 2019. The case is remanded for further action regarding the effective date and whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a prior denial.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and verification of service dates, stressor events, and records. Service connection will be reconsidered based on the new information.

The appellant's request for substitution as claimant due to the death of his mother, who was the surviving spouse of the Veteran, is denied because it was filed more than one year after her death and he does not meet the eligibility criteria for VA benefits.

The Board granted an effective date of October 1, 1978 for the award of additional dependency compensation based on the Veteran's marriage to his spouse and their dependent child.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records. Specifically, the Board requests that VA obtain his treatment records from the Buffalo VA Medical Center and Retina Consultants of Western New York.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the presumptive period. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a nexus between the Veteran's current anemia and her time in service.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for myositis and thoracic spine is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbar spine disability and a compensable rating for his surgical scar associated with the lumbar surgery was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a VA examination and an etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's lymphomatoid papulosis, which is presumed to be caused by exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for clarification of the medical opinion provided in December 2017. The examiner's opinion is contradictory and lacks a thorough rationale.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA medical records and non-VA hospital contact information, as well as incomplete documentation regarding possible transfer to a VA facility. The appellant must provide any missing records.

The Board has decided that the VA Medical Center did not receive all necessary treatment records from Craig Memorial Hospital, and thus remanded the case for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence showing that his pre-existing pseudoxanthoma elasticum was aggravated during service. The Board found that the condition had progressed beyond its natural course, supporting a grant of service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 22, 2014 for the award of dependent compensation for his spouse and child. The decision found that the earliest possible effective date was July 22, 2014, when dependency information was submitted.

The Veteran's service did not meet the minimum duration required for VA loan guaranty benefits, and her appeal is denied.