Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claim for congestive heart failure, pericardial effusion, and atrial fibrillation is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's residuals of non-gonococcal urethritis resulted in urinary frequency with daytime voiding intervals between one and two hours and awakening to void three to four times per night. The VA examiner found that the disability did not meet or more nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating, thus denying the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sinus condition is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with cocaine abuse.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance was denied due to lack of supporting evidence. The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring remand to properly calculate the Veteran’s income and expenses.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective date and increased rating for insomnia was denied. The Board found no evidence of an informal claim prior to September 25, 2019, the date VA received his intent to file a claim.

The Veteran's surviving spouse died in September 2015, and the appellant was appointed as her fiduciary. The appellant received $900 for burial expenses but is not entitled to additional accrued benefits due to her status as an adult child who has been self-supporting.

The Veteran's VR&E subsistence allowance is granted at the post-9/11 rate, as he elected this option and had sufficient entitlement to Chapter 33 Post-9/11 benefits.

The Veteran died from pneumonia with an underlying cause of cerebrovascular accident. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.,There is no established service connection for the cause of death, as there is no evidence that either condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's request to waive his home loan debt was timely, and the issue is now considered on its merits.

The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for VA medical services and healthcare benefits due to a lack of active duty service, thus not meeting the criteria for being considered a veteran.

The Board has found that the Veteran's throat/neck cancer is related to his military service, specifically exposure to herbicides and asbestos. However, a VA examination was not provided due to pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran is granted a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in acquiring a special home adaptation grant due to his service-connected inhalation injury, but denied for specially adapted housing grants as he does not meet the criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and procedural non-compliance. The right foot disability claim is being remanded for an updated VA examination, while the TDIU claim remains inextricably intertwined with the right foot claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin condition characterized as tumid lupus erythematosus began during his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the Veteran's skin lesions, including two basal cell carcinomas on his left ear and back, effective from September 14, 2009. The decision is based on the Veteran receiving constant or near-constant systemic therapy for his condition.

The Board denied service connection for left and right foot conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate analysis of the appellant's testimony regarding the Veteran’s malaria symptoms and their impact on his death. The VA examiner is requested to provide a supplemental opinion considering new evidence submitted by the appellant's representative.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration due to the need for a comprehensive independent living assessment and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability, including residuals of a jaw fracture, finding that there was no evidence of a current compensable dental disability due to loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible. The Board also found that any disabilities identified were not related to his in-service facial fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including VA examinations to address his current disability levels and whether there are any additional manifestations of his service-connected conditions.