Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board denied the reopening of a claim regarding the character of the appellant's discharge, as new and material evidence was not provided to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication of DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, due to VA treatment, and service connection for cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the throat as due to herbicide exposure. The claims for secondary service connection for various disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death. However, the case is being remanded as further medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's cause of death was related to his in-service arrhythmias and subsequent cardiac ablation procedure.

The Board found the appellant's service was not dishonorable and therefore allowed him to potentially receive VA benefits. The appeal is remanded for further information regarding his income, employment status, and medical history.

The Veteran's service-connected diverticulosis of large intestine without perforation or abscess, with colon polyps, previously sigmoid diverticulosis is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran, finding that she did not meet the legal requirements to be considered a surviving spouse under VA regulations.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to March 22, 2005 for DIC and death pension benefits as a helpless child of the Veteran. The claim was not filed before this date.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye disability caused a traumatic fall that led to his cerebral hemorrhage and death. Therefore, the cause of death is considered service connected.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the Veteran's claims for joint pain and sterilization, which are related to his exposure to non-ionizing microwave radiation during service. The VA is instructed to obtain a medical opinion on whether these conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's alopecia is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board has found that a compensable rating is not warranted. The case is being remanded for further development regarding the claim of TDIU.

The Veteran's spouse is seeking an apportionment of the Veteran’s VA benefits, but since the Veteran was not receiving any VA benefits during the relevant period (June 25, 2013 to May [Redacted], 2017), the claim is dismissed as there is no justiciable case or controversy.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated employment information. The issues of service connection and increased disability ratings are not before the Board.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability that had been rated as totally disabling for at least eight years prior to his death, so the Appellant is not eligible for an increased rate of DIC.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including his right and left hand numbness, right knee disabilities, lower extremity radiculopathy, migraine headaches, and TDIU. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran’s Reserve service, obtain SSA records, and provide additional examinations for clarification of etiology.

The Board has granted the readjudication of the claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, but denied the original claim as there is no current disability found.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current UTIs are related to her service. The VA needs to obtain and review any relevant medical records, particularly those from private sources, and schedule a VA examination for the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for ulcers, finding that the Veteran's ulcers were shown as chronic in service and are not attributable to intercurrent causes.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the August 2018 remand instructions and thus, the matter must be remanded for further development.

The Board has decided the case is remanded due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's Guillain-Barre syndrome was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left hip replacement surgery or Reiter’s syndrome.