Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and granted service connection for this condition. The issues of increased ratings for diabetes, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, and PTSD are being remanded due to a lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The claim for reimbursement of accrued benefits from the decedent's death was denied because it was not filed within one year of her passing.

The Board has determined that the Appellant is recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of VA benefits. The issue of entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and death pension on the merits, including service connection for cause of death, must now be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for foot fungus was granted in a previous rating decision, and the issue is now moot as there are no longer any unresolved issues.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents while stationed at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

The Veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as a rash that turns into pruritic hyperpigmented nodules, is granted service connection and considered to be related to her service-connected PTSD. The respiratory disorder claim was denied. Other issues were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left eye disability, including blindness of the left eye, was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The additional vision loss is attributed to his pre-existing conditions and subsequent surgeries.

The Veteran's service was less than 90 days and not due to a service-connected disability, thus he is ineligible for nonservice-connected pension.

The Veteran's glioblastoma, a disease presumed to be caused by his exposure to herbicide agents during service, is found to have been caused or substantially contributed to his death. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The appellant's application for accrued benefits was not filed within one year of the Veteran’s spouse's death, and therefore, the claim is denied.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection issues were addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an enlarged heart and a heart murmur due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits is denied because the decedent served in the Philippine Scouts, which does not qualify them for VA burial benefits.

The appellant is denied recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs death benefits due to remarriage prior to age 57.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral neurological disorder of the lower extremities, as well as his increased ratings and compensable rating claims. The Veteran is to be scheduled for an examination by an appropriate clinician to determine the nature and etiology of a neurological disorder in the lower extremities.

The Veteran's death was due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident, which occurred while he was legally intoxicated. The Board found that the Veteran engaged in willful misconduct by driving under the influence and thus denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was no evidence linking his colon cancer to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's child is not eligible for Chapter 35 DEA benefits because she turned 26 years old before the effective date of her parent's permanent total disability rating, which is a requirement for eligibility.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for aid and attendance benefits, finding that the claim was not filed until October 26, 2016.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 28, 2002 for the grant of service connection for cold weather injury disability to the fingertips of bilateral hand. The decision is based on newly discovered service treatment records that were not previously associated with the claims file when VA first decided the claim in December 2002.