Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for respiratory disability is denied as there was no pending claim prior to January 13, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for complications from a hernia surgery because the operation was performed after the Veteran's active duty ended, and there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's annual income exceeded the maximum pension rate, resulting in a denial of nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's service did not meet the criteria for basic entitlement to death pension benefits as his surviving spouse had a countable annual income exceeding the maximum annual death pension rate that applies to a surviving spouse with no dependent children.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, as claims do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran's benign bladder tumor and polycythemia vera are granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer, postoperative. The benign bladder tumor is not presumed due to herbicide exposure, but the polycythemia vera is found to be aggravated by the service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hand disability, as secondary to his service-connected residuals of left radial/ulna fracture. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial compensable rating for Sertoli cell syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for facial tics, bilateral hand tics, and speech limitations as secondary to service-connected paranoid schizophrenia due to a need for further examination.

The Board denied dependency and indemnity compensation based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, as well as nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The appellant was over 23 years old at the time of her father's death and did not meet the criteria to receive these benefits.

The Board denied service connection for aplastic anemia due to in-service herbicide agent exposure, but granted reopening of the claim. The evidence did not establish a nexus between the condition and service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for ventral hernia and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and possibly scheduling a VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bladder infections and bowel condition due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the overpayment debt of $10,854.79 was not properly created due to concurrent receipt of disability compensation benefits and active service pay for a period of 108 drill days in FY 2015, and thus granted the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and whether exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam contributed to it. The Appellant's claim will be reviewed again with a focus on obtaining additional medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right leg reflex sympathic dystrophy, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his in-service injury and concluding that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a link between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for individual unemployability prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inconsistencies in the muscle groups affected by the Veteran's fragment wounds, and requests clarification from a VA examiner.

The Board has ordered a remand to review the file and ensure that all accrued benefits have been paid, including for home care services provided by D.S. The appellant is asked to provide proof of payment or acknowledgment of receipt.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection for a dental disorder and right little finger/knuckle crush injury, as these issues involve medical opinions regarding in-service trauma.