Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's character of discharge and type of active duty service, which may affect eligibility for Chapter 33 educational benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pneumonia was caused by his in-service yellow fever, cholera, or dysentery.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the claims of service connection for spina bifida, neurological bladder secondary to spina bifida, and numbness of bilateral legs and feet secondary to spina bifida. The Veteran's condition may be a congenital defect or disease, and an addendum opinion is needed to determine its nature and etiology.

The Veteran's active duty service from January 2015 to January 2016 was not considered qualifying for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits due to it being under Title 10 USC 12304b, which is not a qualifying service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and has determined that the Veteran's cancer was due to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The claim is therefore granted.

The Veteran's chronic strain of the lower thoracic spine was granted a 20 percent disability rating, as it met the criteria for this rating based on forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees and muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or spinal contour.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxious and depressed mood is currently rated at 30 percent, reflecting occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms that decrease work efficiency and ability to perform tasks during periods of significant stress.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, diagnosed as insomnia, is related to his military service and has been granted service connection.

The appeal for TDIU benefits was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and burial benefits due to incomplete records and unverified periods of service. The appellant is asked to provide additional information and evidence.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the withholding of VA disability compensation benefits to recoup separation pay is denied as there is no provision of law under which the Board may grant the relief sought by the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity neurological disorders, finding that the conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's fibrocystic breast disease is not considered disabling and does not result in impairment of function, so a compensable rating for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disability, including metatarsalgia, hammer toes, and hallux valgus, is etiologically related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, finding that the Appellant's claim was not timely filed and thus became final. The current effective date is August 15, 2013.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for a skin disorder, finding that new and material evidence supports her claim. The Board also found that her current urticaria and polymorphous light eruption are related to her military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for consideration of extraschedular TDIU due to the severity of his service-connected disabilities and need to take pain medications.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for heart attack, stroke residuals, and myopia/presbyopia (claimed as eye sight) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's representative submitted a letter disagreeing with the October 2014 rating decision, but an SOC was not issued.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current disability is not related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete examinations and need for further medical evaluation. The Veteran's rib disability may be related to his service-connected left foot disability, but a new examination is needed to determine this. For facial cancer, a VA examination is required as there is no direct evidence of asbestos exposure. The rating for the left foot disability needs to be reassessed.