Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran regularly and repeatedly operated, maintained, or served onboard C-123 aircraft during a period when exposure to herbicides is presumed.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an extension of the delimiting date for education benefits under Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill because her character of discharge has not been corrected by the service department and therefore her period of eligibility ends on March 30, 2021.

The Veteran's pleural plaques are rated at 30 percent prior to March 6, 2020, and noncompensable thereafter.

The appeal for a permanent 100% rating for service-connected congestive heart failure is dismissed as the claim has been granted in a June 2020 rating decision.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's right kidney condition, which is characterized as malignant neoplasms of the genitourinary system.

The Veteran's cancer of the larynx residuals are rated at a 30% since July 23, 2014. The claim is granted for this period.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the issue was granted in full and became moot.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation at Treasure Island. The AOJ needs to verify and quantify this potential exposure before making a determination on service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw it before a decision was made.

The Veteran's medical expenses at Williamsburg Regional Hospital from June to July 2017 were not reimbursable under VA policy because the treatment was non-emergent and the Veteran did not meet financial liability requirements.

The Board denied service connection for asthenopia, bilateral eyes as there is no current disability and the Veteran's symptoms are not supported by objective medical evidence.

The Board denied the claim for SMC benefits as the appellant is not in need of aid and attendance or housebound due to his disabilities.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral inguinal hernia, finding that his symptoms more nearly approximated a readily reducible postoperative recurrence of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left middle finger, left ring finger, right ring finger, and right middle finger disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The VA examiners did not provide an adequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s functional impairment had an onset during service or was causally related to service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees or combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees, which are required for a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to lack of evidence showing she requires such assistance.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records, specifically Social Security Administration and private medical treatment records. The Veteran's daughter is seeking service connection for a pulmonary disability and eye burns.

The Board found the reduction of nonservice-connected pension benefits for the period from December 1, 2013 to February 1, 2014 was proper.,The Board granted an award of nonservice-connected pension benefits in the amount of $1,380 per month for the period from February 1, 2014 to December 1, 2014.,The Board granted an award of nonservice-connected pension benefits in the amount of $1,404 per month for the period from December 1, 2014 to February 1, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination, and a new VA examination is required to assess whether there is ankylosis during flare-ups or repetitive use over time that would result in ankylosis of the right ring finger. The Veteran's overall hand function will also be evaluated.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.