Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right thumb, ring finger, and little finger disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions. The rating criteria have changed since the last examination in December 2014, and functional loss must be considered.

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend her delimiting date for DEA benefits beyond June 1, 2015 due to lack of legal basis and absence of entitlement under the law.

The Veteran's total right hip replacement has been granted a rating of 70 percent effective March 25, 2013 and her 90 percent rating remains in effect since March 13, 2018.,The Veteran's total left hip replacement has been granted a rating of 70 percent throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran’s total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy has been denied for an increased rating.

The Veteran's service period did not meet the wartime service requirement for entitlement to non-service-connected pension benefits, as his active duty was after recognized wartime periods. The Board denied the claim due to lack of qualifying wartime service.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right lower extremity conditions, as well as left and right upper extremity conditions. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's grade 2 astrocytoma is related to his service, specifically exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's benefits are being apportioned to the appellant on behalf of his dependent children D.M., A.M., and N.M. due to the Veteran not reasonably discharging his responsibility for support.

The Board has decided that an additional VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's liver condition, which was related to his use of prescribed medication following a positive TB skin test.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a severe concussion as there is no current disability and the Veteran did not have a head injury during service.

The Veteran's ambulance services on July 23, 2014 were not authorized under the Veterans Millennium Healthcare and Benefits Act, so reimbursement or payment is denied.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left eye disability is related to the January 20, 2016 VA surgery.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of right hemicolectomy for malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma was denied in October 2010 due to the term not appearing on the list of presumptively service-connected conditions. The Veteran reopened his claim and provided evidence that classified malignant epithelioid angiomyolipoma as a subset of angiosarcoma, which is presumed for herbicide agent exposure. The Board granted an effective date of December 15, 2009.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to new and material evidence, but further development is needed before the merits of the case can be decided.

The Veteran's glioblastoma multiforme, which caused his death in June 2015, is presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure during service. The Board granted the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's chondromalacia patella of the right knee and chondromalacia and osteochondritis desiccans of the left knee are rated at 10 percent each. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for semilunar cartilage dysfunction of the left knee.

The Veteran's overpayment debt of $12,925.77 was properly created due to his failure to notify VA of his divorce from his spouse, resulting in retroactive reduction of compensation benefits.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome was related to his in-service radiation exposure, and therefore grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip disorders, finding that there was no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board denied the termination of the appellant's VA death pension benefits due to excessive net worth, finding that her IRA funds and other assets were sufficient for her maintenance.