Other conditions decisions — 2019

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 nasal collapse and resulting breathing issues are caused by the January 2012 VA Mohs surgery with reconstruction, but there is a dispute about whether the proper standard of care was used. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for Grave's disease and the effective date of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The TDIU award is also denied as there is no earlier effective date.

The Veteran's former spouse, the Appellant, has been granted a $150.00 per month apportionment of the Veteran’s VA disability compensation benefits on behalf of their two children, N.E. and J.E.

The reduction in survivor's pension benefits due to excessive income was improper, and the appeal is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for Wegener’s granulomatosis, finding that the Veteran was exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) during his military service at Loring Air Force Base and that there is a nexus between his disability and this exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a VA examination to evaluate the etiology of the Veteran's left hip disability, including whether it is related to his right foot hallux valgus.

The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU rating from December 10, 2010 due to service-connected disabilities. The effective date of this decision is set at December 10, 2010.

The Board denied service connection for a visual disorder, finding that the Veteran's eye disorders are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the restoration of pension benefits because the Veteran was incarcerated for felony convictions, and pension payments were suspended on March 10, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the nature of the Veteran's mass and its relationship to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents, but a definitive diagnosis cannot be made without surgery.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed cellulitis, specifically whether it is related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's right foot corns/callouses with history of bone spurs are currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran died in September 2016 from ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. The cause of death is not service-connected, as there was no evidence that the conditions manifested during or within one year after service, were related to a service-connected disability, or were caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service connection claim for oropharyngeal cancer is remanded due to potential exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. The TDIU claim is also remanded as there are questions about whether his service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's daughter did not meet the legal requirements to receive accrued benefits due to her age and because she failed to provide evidence that she paid for the Veteran's last expenses or burial costs.

The claim for service-connected burial benefits greater than $1,000.00 is denied as the appellant was awarded the maximum amount of $1,000.00 due to the Veteran's death being service-connected and not a Federal employee.

The Veteran is granted a 100 percent disability evaluation for Crohn's disease from November 7, 2011 through February 14, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and further development. The case is now back with the AOJ for consideration of the newly received evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for a right leg disorder is remanded due to the need for an examination. The claims for higher ratings in multiple conditions are also remanded.