Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has decided that the appellant needs to provide evidence of expenses paid for her mother's last sickness in order to be reimbursed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to incomplete STRs, lack of a VA examination, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to potential applicability of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which may affect her eligibility. The claim will be returned to the RO after issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 18, 2013 for the award of non-service connected pension benefits. The Veteran submitted her original claim on that date.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking his death to exposure to herbicides during service. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Veteran's right leg disability is not service-connected due to the surgery being a direct result of his military service, and there was no fault on VA's part.

The Board has granted service connection for myasthenia gravis, finding that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam is presumed and linked to his current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding income and expenses calculation for pension benefits, which must be re-evaluated.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right elbow disability, sleep apnea, and skin condition due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim for right elbow disability is reopened but not decided on its merits. Sleep apnea and skin conditions are also remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal seeking service connection for polymyalgia rheumatica.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's microcytic hypochromic anemia was aggravated by service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The case must be returned for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for sinus and hard palate cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to solvents as a helicopter mechanic during service is related to his current condition. The cause of death was also found to be due to sinus and hard palate cancer.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide proper notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The appellant needs to be informed about whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's death was caused by malignant hypercalemia and squamous cell carcinoma, metastatic. The Board is remanding the claims for service connection as these conditions may be related to chemical exposure during his service in Afghanistan.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's in-service radiation exposure, and for further development including a dose estimate from the Naval Dosimetry Center.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional dependency allowance was denied as his initial claim was received after the one-year period from notification of his VA disability compensation rate.

The Veteran's death is not related to his military service, and therefore the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied. The TDIU claim for accrued purposes is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives regarding service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes. A new VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of any current dental disorders, including considering the Veteran's in-service trauma.