Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for a dental condition for treatment purposes as it is secondary to in-service trauma.

The Veteran's death was due to a service-connected condition (metastatic non-small cell carcinoma of the lung) resulting from his exposure to Agent Orange. The appellant received the maximum burial benefits ($2,000) for service-connected burial expenses and no additional burial benefits were awarded.

The Veteran is granted an extraschedular TDIU effective October 1, 2010. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected heart transplant caused him to be unemployable in July 2010.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed left and right-hand disabilities, specifically related to cold injuries or frostbite during service.

The Veteran's claim for educational benefits under Chapter 33 of the Post-9/11 GI Bill is remanded due to missing service personnel records. The AOJ must obtain these records and consider whether the Veteran's first period of active duty was honorable.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for a brain tumor and residuals of partial left frontal resection, specifically whether it is related to Gulf War burn pit exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected left clavicle fracture residuals are rated at 10 percent effective April 25, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected photophobia is granted an initial disability rating of 10 percent, effective July 16, 2014.

The Board has granted the appellant's request for an effective date of November 1, 2007 for her VA survivor's pension benefits. The Court found that a claim was filed in or before November 2007 and assigned this new effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's SUNCT/SUNA syndrome, which is a rare primary headache syndrome not related to environmental exposure or a prior history of sinus headaches. The VA examiner did not address whether any symptoms are due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness resulting from service in Southwest Asia.

The Board dismissed the appeal for reimbursement of medical care provided by Campbell Health System from December 13, 2002, through December 20, 2002, due to lack of specific allegations of error and failure to provide supporting evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, finding that it did not have its onset during service and is unrelated to any in-service disease or injury. The Board also found no evidence of Persian Gulf exposure.

The Board denied service connection for gynecomastia and thyroid disorder (Graves Disease) as the evidence did not establish a current disability or a causal relationship to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected old fracture middle phalanx, fourth digit and service connection for a right fifth finger disability are being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has granted an additional $11,360 in accrued benefits for final expenses related to the payee's care. The appellant is entitled to this amount and no more.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes disability is rated at a single 30 percent rating for the entire appeal period, but her right and left foot hallux valgus disabilities are denied ratings higher than 10 percent. The Board also found that she does not meet the criteria for TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury in service resulting in additional disability and concluding that his nonrefractive error eye disorders are not related to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits to the appellant, for the benefit of their minor child due to the Veteran reasonably providing support and the appellant not showing a financial hardship.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's scleroderma. The case is being returned for a VA examination with an opinion on whether the Veteran’s scleroderma was caused by his military service, specifically exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board found that the Veteran was not entitled to additional VA disability compensation benefits for a dependent spouse due to his divorce from B.C. and subsequent marriage to R.C., resulting in an overpayment of $11,111.00 which was properly created.