Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection for insomnia, chronic dysmenorrhea, a right elbow disability, and right hip, thigh, and leg disabilities have been denied. A rating of 30 percent has been granted for abdominal adhesions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for amputation of his right lower extremity, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary service connection. The March 2018 VA examiner concluded that the amputation was not caused by his service-connected right ankle cellulitis.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its previous remand directives and requires further development for both issues on appeal, including obtaining an addendum VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's skin disorder.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes due to lack of evidence showing loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible due to in-service trauma or disease.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's left leg injury residuals are rated at 20 percent prior to February 28, 2014 and 30 percent from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition as there is no current diagnosis of such condition and the Veteran did not manifest one during his period of service.

The Board has found an apparent discrepancy between the available X-ray studies and needs additional examination to determine the extent of arthritis in the Veteran's right hand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected glaucoma caused or aggravated his claimed bilateral eye disorder. A new VA examination is needed.

The Board found that the appellant and the Veteran were not married for at least one year prior to the Veteran's death, thus failing to satisfy the marriage date requirements for DIC benefits. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected umbilical hernia is currently rated at 20 percent, and she contends that the size of her hernia warrants a higher rating. The Board has remanded both the increased rating claim and the effective date claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of her condition.

The Veteran's service creditable for Chapter 33 education benefits meets the criteria for both the 70 percent level and the 80 percent level. However, VA law requires that the Veteran be assigned the 70 percent payment rate.

The Veteran's VA benefits for the month of his death terminated upon his death, and there is no accrued benefits to be paid.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for dizziness, which is now considered secondary to service-connected disabilities. However, the Board found no medical evidence supporting a direct link between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his claimed dizziness condition.

The Veteran's service-connected respiratory disability was denied a compensable rating prior to August 7, 2013.,A 10 percent rating for the respiratory disability from August 7, 2013 to February 23, 2017 was granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for nasopharyngeal cancer is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and review of his claims file.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable evaluation for the service-connected left tibia-fibula fracture residuals is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Veteran's current eye disorders are not related to his military service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher educational benefits rate was granted as he had at least 6 months of qualifying active duty service, allowing him to receive the 50% benefit level under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.