Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation benefits for a dependent child based on school attendance and concurrent receipt of DEA and disability benefits is denied as the Veteran was not entitled to such benefits before May 2016 due to his dependent child having already elected for DEA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive vascular disease was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension is related to his presumed in-service herbicide exposure, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death is attributed to multiple myeloma, which is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Thailand. The Board granted DIC benefits based on this presumption.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his right hand condition, TDIU, and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's inguinal hernia is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues on appeal are service connection for a right arm condition related to his lumbar spine disability, and an increase in rating for his lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as his timely substantive appeal was not received within 60 days of the March 27, 2017 SOC and one year from the November 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for compensable and increased ratings for his service-connected benign bone lesion of the left acromion (minor) and opacification of the maxillary sinus, residuals of a nose injury are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support exposure to herbicides and insufficient medical evidence linking his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spondylolisthesis was first shown during service and is not a result of any in-service injury or incident. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his fatal hypertensive cardiovascular disease was not linked to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by a combination of prescribed and non-prescribed medications, including Citalopram, Tramadol, Hydromorphone, and an unspecified drug. The VA medical records are incomplete and need to be supplemented with all relevant treatment logs and samples.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any disability associated with his death to active service and concluding that the Veteran’s cause of death was not due to his active duty service.

The Veteran did not serve in the Republic of Vietnam, so he does not meet the criteria for basic entitlement to death pension benefits.

The appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, so she is not eligible for death pension benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as the reduction of his nonservice-connected pension benefits based on the award of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits was proper.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated employment history and further development of the record.

The Board granted the Appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, based on her marriage to the Veteran prior to his death and their continued cohabitation after their divorce.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of scrub typhus, but has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a condition manifested by fatigue, weakness, generalized myalgias, arthralgias, and urinary symptoms, as secondary to PTSD with depressive disorder.

The Veteran's peripheral vestibular disorder, manifested by dizziness and occasional staggering, is granted an effective date of October 14, 2011 for a 30 percent rating.