Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for genitourinary disorder, colovesical fistula, prostate disorder (prostatitis), and chronic pain syndrome due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's cause of death, fresh water drowning and acute ethanol intoxication, was not related to his military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's death was caused by bile duct cancer, which the Board is unable to determine if it is related to his exposure at Camp Lejeune due to conflicting evidence. The case is being remanded for further clarification and medical opinion.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the payment of additional compensation benefits for the Veteran's dependent spouse, L., finding that the claim was not timely filed and that the earliest date of claim is October 24, 2016.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at UPMC Northwest in Seneca, Pennsylvania on December 22, 2014 are granted for the portion not covered by Medicare.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for TDIU before March 7, 2017. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's death was cited as the reason for denying both Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) based on eligibility as a surviving parent of the Veteran for VA purposes, and accrued benefits. The appellant's annual income exceeded the maximum allowable for Parents' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, and her application for accrued benefits was untimely.

The Veteran's service-connected cold injuries do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, as they are not severe enough to cause unemployability in climate-controlled indoor positions.

The Veteran's daughter is seeking to continue her father's claim for accrued benefits in excess of $3,042. The case has been remanded due to the need for adjudication regarding whether she can substitute as a party and provide evidence of unreimbursed medical expenses.

The Veteran's daughter is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code for correspondence courses initiated in February 2015 due to the courses being precluded by VA education regulations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for genital herpes is granted as the Board has determined that he incurred this condition during his active duty in Korea.

The Veteran's unspecified trauma-and stressor-related disorder is granted as service connected, with onset during active service and related to his duties as a funeral detail representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for liver and lung disorders due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's death was also related to his service-connected conditions, but further medical opinions are needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic ulcerative colitis, large intestine removal, and pre-cancerous colon polyps due to new evidence. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's lung disability, characterized as empyema, is being remanded for a new examination to determine the current nature, extent, and severity of her condition due to incomplete or unacceptable pulmonary function testing (PFT) results.

The Veteran died at his place of employment and the appellant filed a claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The appeal is denied as there was no legal basis to award such benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for high cholesterol was reopened due to the introduction of new and material evidence. The effective date remains January 28, 2012.,The right shoulder disability status post-surgery to repair separation is remanded as there is no showing that an increase in the level of disability was factually ascertainable prior to January 28, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further verification of his in-service exposure to an herbicide agent and clarification of his service in the Marine Corps Reserve. The Board also requests a VA examination to determine the date of initial onset and etiology of his metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for an apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits to the appellant, finding that no earlier non-final claims existed and that the earliest permitted effective date was February 1, 2017.