Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's surviving spouse is denied eligibility for VA benefits due to remarriage after the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's surviving spouse, the appellant, was not recognized as his legal spouse for VA death benefits purposes due to lack of public recognition of their marriage and other inconsistencies in her claims.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for hematochezia is denied as the medical evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and development of his service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound of the right hand, as he has asserted worsening symptoms that have not been evaluated.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability at L5 was granted. His claim for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities remains pending and is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal of the September 2014 rating decision awarding accrued benefits, finding that her August 23, 2016 notice of disagreement was not timely filed.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the left thumb disability, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain and cardiomegaly, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship to service.,There is no objective medical evidence linking current joint pain or cardiomegaly to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left upper extremity brachial plexus disorder is related to his service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for ovarian cancer, which is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service. The case will now be reviewed by a VA examiner to determine if there is at least a 50% chance that the Veteran's ovarian cancer was caused by her service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination in the denial of service connection for a pulmonary disorder other than calcification of the lungs. A new examination is required to determine if the Veteran's current asthma is related to her service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of cold injuries to the bilateral fingers is denied as there are no current disabilities and no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 28, 2016 for the award of additional dependent compensation for the Veteran's wife due to lack of timely submission of necessary information.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized beneficiary travel expenses provided by the Salvation Army to a VA medical facility on December 3, 2015 and December 4, 2015 is denied as there were no actual incurred costs.

The Veteran's surviving spouse died in September 2013, and there were no accrued benefits due to her at the time of death. The Board denied the claim for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Shands Jacksonville North on August 5, 2015 are being remanded for additional development of VA treatment records and to determine if a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's near syncopal episodes constitute a disability and, if so, whether they are related to service.

The Veteran's pituitary adenoma, osteoporosis, and hypogonadism are being remanded for a VA opinion to determine if they are related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The TDIU prior to August 12, 2015 is also being remanded as it is dependent on the adjudication of these service connection claims.

The Veteran's former spouse is not recognized as the surviving spouse due to a divorce prior to the Veteran's death, thus denying eligibility for VA death benefits.

The Veteran's effective date for adding his spouse T.M. as a dependent is granted, starting from September 7, 2014 with benefits beginning on October 1, 2014.