Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his HCC to his active duty service.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's residuals of HNP at L4-5 and S1 with multilevel DJD, finding that his forward flexion was limited to 25 degrees in August 2009, which is consistent with his current 40% disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for adding his spouse to his VA compensation award, finding no documentation showing such a prior effective date was warranted.

The Veteran died from adenocarcinoma of the colon, which is not service-connected. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death as there was no evidence linking the cancer to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and burial benefits due to their inextricability with the claim of CUE. The appellant is also requested to provide additional information or evidence related to these matters.

The Veteran is seeking a refund of contributions made under the Montgomery GI Bill program. The appeal must be remanded to obtain missing documentation regarding his entitlement and transfer of benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for syringomyelia and its residuals due to the need for a new medical opinion from a spine specialist.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's glioblastoma multiforme is related to his service exposure, including herbicidal agents and chemicals used in servicing jet engines.

The VA death pension benefits prior to February 1, 2017 are denied because the appellant's net worth was sufficient to meet her basic needs and some portion of her estate should be consumed for her maintenance.

The claim for service connection for a right ulnar nerve disorder, claimed as right elbow disorder, including as secondary to the service-connected right little finger fracture is remanded. The Veteran's lay statements and medical evidence regarding his elbow surgeries by Dr. Dryer are also addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and compensation benefits related to his eye injuries, hip surgery complications, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, preventing him from receiving nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's service did not qualify for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of wartime service.

The Board has granted service connection for the retained foreign body in the right scalp behind the right ear, which is considered a right skull disability. The other issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's service during the Vietnam era is sufficient to meet the requirement for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a respiratory disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure, was denied by the Board. The evidence did not show any in-service diagnosis or treatment of a respiratory disorder and there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran does not have active wartime service and therefore is not eligible for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's adult daughter did not meet the requirements for accrued benefits as she was not a child of the Veteran and had not provided evidence that she paid for his last sickness or burial.

The appellant is not eligible to receive DIC benefits as he does not meet the criteria for a 'child' of the Veteran.

The appellant is not eligible for death pension and accrued benefits because she was divorced from the Veteran at the time of his death, which disqualifies her as his surviving spouse.