Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board found that the appellee demonstrated financial hardship and that the apportionment did not cause undue hardship to the Veteran, thus granting an apportionment of the Veteran's VA benefits to his former spouse.

The rating reduction from 10 percent to noncompensable for the service-connected crush injury to right hand, limitation of long finger was not proper. The restoration of the 10 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bladder condition and hydronephrosis have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's sinus cancer and his military service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's esophageal cancer and his presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has directed a remand for further examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected right sternoclavicular joint disability. The requested VA examination addressing the right sternoclavicular joint dislocation and reduction residuals has not been conducted, and all relevant VA and private treatment records should be obtained.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died before her hearing could be held, and appellants' claims do not survive their deaths.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for nonservice-connected burial benefits, a burial plot or interment allowance, and reimbursement for burial transportation expenses. The Veteran died at a private hospice facility without meeting the eligibility criteria for any of these benefits.

The Board has remanded the claim due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be obtained with consideration of potential Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia has been granted. The claim for service connection for fibroid tumors as secondary to anemia is being remanded.,The Veteran was previously denied service connection for both anemia and fibroid tumors, but the claims have now been reopened due to new evidence.

The Board denied the appeal as the Veteran did not timely file a substantive appeal for her claim of service connection for Dercum's disease, which was denied in a June 2014 rating decision. The Board found that the July 25, 2016, VA Form 9 (postmarked July 23, 2016) was untimely as it was postmarked five days after the deadline for filing the appeal.

The Board denied the claim for payment of accrued benefits prior to April 1, 2017 as there was no evidence of any unadjudicated formal or informal claims for compensation benefits prior to March 14, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for osteophyte and post traumatic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint of the right thumb, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether this disability had its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claim for entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) due to additional information needed from the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Veteran's service period.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses at Flagler Hospital on April 15, 2016 is granted because the treatment was for a medical emergency and there were no feasible VA facilities available.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification from a previous VA-contracted opinion regarding whether the Veteran's skin disabilities, including dermatofibromas and lipomas, had onset in service or are otherwise related to service. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to incomplete employment history and the need for additional development. The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision without knowing his complete work history.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for multiple myeloma is remanded due to the transfer of records and the need to consider additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death.