Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected status post bilateral feet corn removals with intermittent callus formation is granted an increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected right wrist disability and for a determination on the secondary service connection claim for degenerative joint disease of the second and third MTP joints of the right foot.

The Veteran's cause of death, a carcinoid tumor, was not service-connected and the Board found no evidence to support a connection between the cancer and his military service.

The Veteran's son is denied accrued benefits as he has already received $11,233.25 for burial and accrued benefits.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot numbness other than the already service-connected conditions, including bilateral hallux valgus, pes planus, and scars. The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus was granted a 10% rating effective June 29, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of liver cancer is dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's Post-9/11 GI Bill on-the-job training benefits were reduced by 20% after six months due to a reduction in his housing allowance, and this decision denies the appeal for benefits exceeding 80%. The decision is based on the law rather than new evidence or service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for revocation of forfeiture of her VA benefits, finding that new and material evidence had not been received. The decision also noted that the appellant did not submit any evidence suggesting she did not intentionally provide false information.

The Veteran's death was service-connected retroactively, but the appellant did not submit her DEA benefits claim within one year of that decision. The Board denied retroactive DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for psoriatic arthritis, including as secondary to TCE exposure, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's surviving spouse died in October [Redacted], 2015. The appellant requested reimbursement for the expense of her mother's last sickness, but was denied as she did not meet the relationship requirements for accrued benefits and did not submit evidence showing she paid out of her own pocket towards last expenses or last illness expenses.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including an examination to determine if the Veteran has any current diagnosis of a left elbow disability or pain alone that rises to the level of functional impairment. The examiner should also opine whether it is at least as likely as not that any left elbow disability had its onset during or is otherwise related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's in-service exposure to herbicide agents caused or contributed to his death. The VA needs to obtain a medical opinion from an oncologist.

The Veteran died in 1984, before November 1, 1990. As a result, he is not eligible for a Government-furnished headstone or marker due to the specific eligibility requirements set by law.

The Board previously denied the claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran, but a remand is required due to an error in finding that the Appellant did not raise any failure in VA’s duty to assist.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's prostate condition and PTSD.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking additional accrued benefits, specifically SMC based on the need for aid and attendance. The claim was initially denied as untimely filed but was later found to be timely. However, there are outstanding VA treatment records that must be obtained before a decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the cases for issuance of a statement of the case on the issue of entitlement to an effective date earlier than July 31, 2017 for the grant of service connection for herpes simplex II virus. The claim for an increased initial rating in excess of 10 percent from July 31, 2017, forward is also remanded and will be readjudicated after the effective date issue is resolved.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Crohn's disease, including as due to in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, is remanded. The appeal will be reconsidered after the Veteran undergoes an examination to determine if his Crohn's disease is related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left scapular strain, a compensable initial disability rating for right ear hearing loss, and an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed neurological injuries in his left shoulder.