Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service is not considered qualifying wartime service, thus his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied.

The Veteran's colon cancer was not shown to be related to service or environmental exposures, and the Board denied his claim.

The Board found that the Veteran received overpayment of Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits for tuition and fees due to his failure to notify VA about a reduction in his credit hours, resulting in an overpayment. The debt is valid.

The Board has determined that additional due process rights are applicable and will remand the claim as below. The matter is REMANDED for the following action.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left thumb injury is remanded due to the passage of time since the last examination and the Veteran's report of worsening symptoms.

The Board finds that additional development is needed prior to final adjudication of the issue on appeal, including obtaining a new medical opinion to clarify the Veteran’s present diagnosis and address potential connection between the claimed disability and VA care.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the Veteran's service treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine if his current upper respiratory infections are related to his inservice bacterial spinal meningitis.

The Board denied service connection for diastasis recti abdominis, claimed as internal stomach disorder, nerve damage and muscle damage because the evidence did not show it was incurred in or caused by active military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to potential issues with the appellant's status as his surviving spouse. The VA needs additional evidence regarding her marriage and its validity.

The Veteran's surviving spouse did not have any pending claims for benefits at the time of her death, and there were no unpaid benefits to which she was entitled.

The Board found that the appellant was enrolled for half-time training during the period from March 2 to March 8, 2015 and thus entitled to a reduced DEA benefits rate of $506 per month. The appeal is denied as the reduction in benefits was calculated correctly.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a dental disability, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is granted because his discharge as a conscientious objector does not bar him from receiving these benefits.

The Veteran's discharge or release from active duty is being reviewed to determine if it was due to a service-connected disability, which would affect their eligibility for VA loan guaranty benefits.

The Board found that an overpayment of $10,497.59 was validly created due to the Veteran's failure to complete his service obligation under the Post 9/11 GI Bill program and the appellant's misrepresentation in not informing VA about the Veteran's discharge.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain the Veteran's complete service records and to determine if his death was due to an underlying psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's request for HISA grants and reimbursement for pool conversion and air conditioning system was denied as the items do not fall within the scope of the HISA program benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a skin disorder due to additional development and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's loss of balance is related to service or secondary to his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.