Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for gout as a form of arthritis, finding that the condition was first shown within one year after separation from active duty and is likely related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cancer of the tongue is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology, specifically whether it is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The appellant is denied recognition as the surviving spouse for VA death benefits because she was divorced from the Veteran at the time of his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's discharge was dishonorable due to willful and persistent misconduct, but not insane at the time of his offenses. As a result, he does not have veteran status for VA benefits purposes and is barred from any applicable VA death benefits.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of active service drill pay and active duty pay was remanded by the Board. The issue will be adjudicated again with further development, including a paid and due audit and financial status report.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was granted based on a presumption of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The effective date is set as March 14, 2017, which is the effective date of the liberalizing law that established this presumption.

The Veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits in excess of 50 percent under the Post-9/11 GI Bill program is denied as there are no additional qualifying periods of active duty service that would warrant a higher benefit level.

The Veteran's cause of death, Alzheimer's disease, was not related to his military service and therefore the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability is considered a congenital defect and not a disease or injury within the meaning of applicable legislation for VA compensation purposes, thus service connection cannot be granted.

The appellant is not eligible for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits because he was over the age of 26 when his father died, and therefore did not meet the eligibility criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts by the PMC in determining whether VA currently has evidence of an informal pension claim filed by the appellant in or around November 2007.

The Veteran's VA compensation benefits were recalculated by the RO due to changes in his dependency status. The appeal is remanded for further development and clarification of the overpayment and benefit recoupment process.

The veteran did not have active service during a recognized period of war, thus failing to meet the eligibility criteria for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits.

The appeal has been dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has granted a $788.00 per month apportionment to the Appellant on behalf of their son, N.P., as it alleviates his financial hardship without causing undue hardship to the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU rating was dismissed due to his death before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic hyperplastic tonsillitis and atrial fibrillation with cardiac pacemaker and aortic and mitral valve insufficiency were denied. The Board found that the Veteran was already receiving the maximum schedular rating for his conditions.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's lower back injury, including whether it began during service or is related to any in-service injury.

The Board has denied service connection for a ruptured tympanic membrane but granted service connection for a right third metacarpal fracture.