Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a compensable dental disability due to replaceable missing teeth. However, his claim for treatment purposes remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board denied the decedent's eligibility for interment in a VA national cemetery due to his dishonorable character of discharge, which is a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand orders. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of breast reduction surgery is being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for pneumothorax as there is no current disability related to prior episodes of the condition, and any residual symptoms are attributed to nonservice-connected conditions like COPD.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 1, 2011 for dependency allowance for the appellant's child N. and denied claims for earlier effective dates for dependency allowances for the appellant's spouse D. and child A.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for dependency benefits due to the Veteran's spouse, finding that the earliest possible effective date was February 1, 2009.

The Board denied service connection for a liver condition and myositis, finding that the evidence did not establish a current diagnosis or a link to service.

The Board denied compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left leg amputation due to the lack of evidence showing VA carelessness, negligence, or fault in causing the disability.

The Board has remanded the DIC claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service in Vietnam and exposure to Agent Orange. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion on whether the cause of death is related to service.

The Veteran's athlete's foot was not incurred in service and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, special monthly pension based on need for aid & attendance/housebound status, TDIU, and recoupment of severance pay due to incomplete development. The issues are being remanded for further development including obtaining VA and private treatment records, personnel records from 1996, and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including VA examinations and consideration of new evidence. The issues include service connection for left foot disorders, abdominal hernia, varicose veins, and shoulder and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder has worsened, and he should be provided an opportunity for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as the overpayment debt of $720.00 was properly created due to his failure to notify VA of his spouse's death, resulting in a retroactive reduction of his compensation benefits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pterygium and pinguecula, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and that they are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for multiple myeloma due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. However, the issue is remanded as further investigation into the Veteran's exposure to herbicides while serving aboard the USS McDermot is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an unclear evaluation of the right index finger condition and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal to the dishonorable service from October 1965 to March 1973 was granted, as he submitted a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year of the May 2015 administrative decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits due to a lack of clear and convincing evidence that they had an agreement to continue their relationship or hold themselves out as spouses after their divorce in 1986. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's colon cancer and his service, specifically exposure to herbicides. Additional development is required including obtaining treatment records and requesting a specific medical opinion from Dr. J.S.