Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current recurrent corneal erosion of the left eye is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lymphoma, specifically Hodgkin's disease. The records from the Medical University of South Carolina need to be obtained for review, and a medical opinion is required to determine if the Veteran's Hodgkin's disease is associated with contaminated waters at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for May 21-22, 2015 at Mayo Clinic Health System are reimbursed as he has partial coverage under third-party insurance.

The Veteran's former spouse is denied recognition as his surviving spouse for the purpose of receiving DIC, death pension and/or accrued benefits due to her divorce from the Veteran in 1975.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA pension benefits in the amount of $47,068.00 was not timely and therefore denied.

The appellant's claim for accrued benefits was denied because her claim was received more than a year after the Veteran's death, and there is no evidence she paid any expenses related to the Veteran's last sickness or burial.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to missing records from Cleveland EMS and Fairview Hospital. The VA needs to obtain these records before making a decision on the merits of his claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for degenerative disk disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination as his symptomatology may have worsened since his last examination in October 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or intent to file one before June 20, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left inguinal hernia has been reopened and granted. The Board finds that the evidence is sufficient to establish service connection for this condition. However, the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) as secondary to his left inguinal hernia requires further development due to outstanding treatment records and a need for an opinion regarding the etiology of any diagnosed psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left foot (great toe) condition, claimed as secondary to service-connected bilateral foot callosities. The Veteran needs an examination to determine if his current left toe disability is related to in-service conditions or service-connected callosities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's nerve disorders of the right and left arms are related to his service-connected cervical spine degenerative joint and disc disease, but additional evidence is needed to clarify this relationship. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the upper extremity nerve disorder claims.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to removal of former spouse B.J.J. as a dependent was properly created, and denied the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's skin rash, joint pain (arthritis), and bladder disability are presumed to be related to his service in Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran has challenged the validity of two overpayment debts and requests a waiver. The Board finds that further review is needed to determine if the debts were properly created, including considering whether there was sole administrative error due to VA delay.

The appellant withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right foot condition, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further evidentiary development, specifically a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for his dependent child A.T. was denied, and the RO has not yet provided a corrected Statement of the Case with the correct evidence reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after an August 2008 rating decision, which suggests that the Veteran's hypospadias existed prior to service and was not aggravated during service. The VA examiner will be asked to determine if there is at least a 50% likelihood that the current condition is related to active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection decision can be made.