Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has granted service connection for the loss of tooth #8 for treatment purposes, finding that it is due to an in-service dental trauma. Service connection for compensation purposes was denied.

The Veteran's daughter, the appellant, did not meet the criteria for accrued benefits as she was not considered a child under the VA regulations and there is no evidence that she bore the expenses of her father's last sickness or burial.

The Veteran's appeals for special monthly compensation were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for loss of upper teeth #3, 4, 5, 12, and 13 due to trauma is denied as the missing teeth have been restored by a suitable prosthesis.

The Board has granted service connection for uterine ablation, but remanded the issue of whether service connection is warranted for a hysterectomy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip disorder clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right hand and finger disability was reduced from a 20 percent rating to a 10 percent rating, but the reduction is found to be improper due to insufficient evidence of improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and special monthly compensation are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the Appellant's income and dependent status, as well as obtaining a VA opinion on whether the Veteran’s cause of death was related to his service.

The Veteran's surviving spouse did not receive any VA benefits that were owed by VA but had not been paid at the time of her death, leading to a denial of accrued benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Veteran's death pension benefits with aid and attendance were awarded effective from January 1, 2015. The Appellant's claim was received within one year after the date of the Veteran’s death, thus meeting the criteria for an effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic outlet syndrome began during service and is related to his in-service symptoms, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease is rated at 60 percent effective April 17, 2008. The Board also granted a TDIU from the same date.

The Board denied the reduction of death pension benefits due to incarceration for more than 60 days, as there was no indication that the appellant's conviction was overturned.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the appellant's countable income and unreimbursed medical expenses, as there are discrepancies in the provided information.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right and left hip disorders are being remanded due to the failure to process a request to participate in VA's RAMP program.

The Board has denied an effective date prior to May 7, 2013 for the addition of the Veteran's spouse and stepchild as dependents. The issue of recognizing S.D.G. as a dependent child is remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits in excess of $200.00 as reimbursement for the last sickness and burial expenses of the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that only $200 was necessary to reimburse him.

The Veteran's claims for VRAP benefits and Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits were denied as he did not have qualifying service under the applicable laws.