Other conditions decisions — 2020

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied the petition for revision of a previously denied claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1310 and § 1318 based on service connection for the Veteran’s cause of death due to lack of evidence supporting presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU related to his left lower extremity disability was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20% for paralysis of the anterior crural nerve and neuralgia of the median nerve, but the Board found that this rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected psoriatic arthritis of the right and left ring and little fingers is rated as noncompensable, which is the only available rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's active duty service does not meet the eligibility criteria for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance benefits due to insufficient qualifying days of active duty after September 10, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 34 (Vietnam Era GI Bill) due to dishonorable service, and the statute of limitations expired.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's dizziness and vertigo are related to his post-concussive syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to May 16, 2016 is dismissed as moot because TDIU has already been granted effective from that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for breast cancer, finding no persuasive competent and credible link between her claimed in-service exposures and her current condition.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not substantially or materially contribute to his death. The decision is based on conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for throat cancer is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of his condition. The VA examiner did not provide an opinion on whether exposure to human excrement and medical waste mixed with diesel or jet fuel, then burned caused his tonsil cancer.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal prior to the Board's decision being issued.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to attorney fees based on a past-due benefits decision from March 2018 that granted TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU and higher rating for left eye blindness are granted, effective from July 21, 2011. The SMC rate is also granted at level K, effective from March 7, 2008.

The Board denied an effective date prior to April 28, 2016 for the award of DIC benefits due to lack of a timely filed application and because the March 2014 rating decision became final.

The Veteran's in-service exposure to jet fuel likely contributed to his development of myelodysplastic cytopenia, leading to sepsis and death. The Board granted service connection for cause of death based on this finding.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left hand navicular fracture residuals is remanded due to the need for further VA examination and treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth is denied because there is no evidence that the damage to his teeth resulted in the loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible, and replaceable missing teeth cannot be service connected for compensation purposes.

The Veteran's meralgia paresthetica, left and right lower extremities, are now rated at 20 percent each. The issues of service connection for asthma, a low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of hyperuricemia with recurrent gouty arthritis and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.