Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for dermatomyositis, finding that there is not enough evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's remains were not interred in a national cemetery, so reimbursement of burial transportation expenses is denied. The appellant has been paid the maximum plot or interment allowance available under the pertinent statute and there is no legal basis to award a higher amount, so the appellant's claim for a greater plot or interment allowance is denied. The nonservice-connected burial allowance is granted because the Veteran was in receipt of VA compensation at the time of his death and died while receiving hospice care at a VA medical facility.

The Board has determined that the matter is not ripe for appellate review due to procedural issues and has ordered a remand to ensure the Veteran receives a copy of the December 2020 apportionment decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to be recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits due to a lack of continuous cohabitation prior to his death.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right mandible fracture and missing teeth due to lack of sufficient evidence. The Veteran's right mandible fracture is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but further examination may be needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted. For his missing teeth, there is no evidence that they resulted from the in-service trauma.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision. As a result, the case is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pre-existing left eye condition worsened during service.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a mental health condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder with degenerative changes, status post right inguinal hernia, and residual surgical scar, status post right inguinal hernia repair are remanded.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum allowable pension rate (MAPR) for non-service-connected disability pension benefits, resulting in a denial of his claim.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his psychiatric disorder is remanded due to the need for a retrospective opinion regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms throughout the appeal period.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no final decision can be made.

The Veteran's claim for a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as the AOJ has already awarded specially adapted housing, making him ineligible for this separate benefit.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues are whether Paget's disease is related to his active duty service or secondary to his benign brain tumor, and whether a lung mass is related to his active duty service or secondary to his benign brain tumor.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as metastatic pancreatic cancer, which did not have its onset in service and is not otherwise causally related to his service or presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the evidence does not support a nexus between the Veteran's pancreatic cancer and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for Hodgkin's lymphoma, concluding that the evidence does not support a finding of direct causation between the Veteran's service and his condition.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected endometriosis, finding that the current symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to adjudicate the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a surgical removal of the Veteran's colon, and remands the case for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability, including porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), due to herbicide agent exposure and/or other chemical agents. The remand includes verifying the Veteran's in-service exposure and obtaining a VA medical opinion on the nature and etiology of his skin disability.