Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's benefits were improperly withheld due to a fugitive felon status from April 22, 2008 to June 10, 2008. The Board found that the Veteran did not have knowledge of the warrant and was not fleeing to avoid arrest or confinement for a felony offense.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right lower extremity varicose veins are related to service, including his time as part of the Honor Guard where he would stand for long hours.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation of 40 percent or more for service-connected bilateral hearing loss since December 3, 2018 is granted. The claim prior to that date remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and a need for further development of evidence, including obtaining a new VA examination that includes all necessary neurological and audiological testing as noted by the December 2017 private examiner.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Florida Hospital on November 10, 2013. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain SSA records and for the Veteran to provide information about his income, net worth, and medical expenses.

The Veteran's death during the appeal period made the apportionment claim moot, and thus the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence for surgery of cerebral aneurysm is denied because she was not service-connected for the condition at the time of her June 2012 surgery.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease of both hips, bunion, right foot, and hammertoe, right foot have been granted. The case is remanded to determine the relationship between current hip conditions and in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to accrued benefits in the amount of $531.05, based on burial and medical expenses incurred for her mother's last sickness and burial.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was honorable, thus not constituting a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for an acquired stomach disorder, including PUD and H. pylori.

The Veteran's stepdaughter is not eligible for retroactive Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits as she was over the age of 26 when she attended college, and her eligibility ended on December 2002.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts in verifying the Veteran's allegations of ionizing radiation exposure and microwave radiation from radar equipment, which may be relevant to his dementia claim.

The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the Appellant, and no effective date prior to July 28, 2015 for service connection for the cause of death can be granted as the claimant has died.

The Veteran's appeal for Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits prior to October 30, 2016 is denied as the record reflects a valid and irrevocable election of Chapter 33 benefits effective October 30, 2016.

The Veteran's rectal disability, which was previously rated at 10 percent, is now granted a 30 percent rating for the period prior to July 22, 2010. The Board found that the evidence supported occasional involuntary bowel movements necessitating the wearing of a pad.

The claim for service connection of a back injury is reopened and the appeal as to this issue is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the Veteran’s claims, but further development is required due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, respiratory, and skin disorders due to new evidence received in October 2018.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence linking his conditions to service.