Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for CLL and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether these conditions are related to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. Additionally, there is uncertainty about whether the Veteran served within the 12 nautical mile territorial sea of Vietnam during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to incomplete verification of exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.

The veteran's service is not considered qualifying for nonservice-connected pension benefits because it does not meet the required 90-day threshold during a period of war. Therefore, his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for onychomycosis of the toenails was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 60 percent has been assigned since October 13, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his schizoaffective disorder was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a 70% or higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.,An earlier effective date prior to July 14, 2014 for a 10 percent rating for asthma is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected endometriosis and left salpingectomy resulted in a combined disability rating of 60 percent as of May 22, 1995. However, her service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 25, 2002.

The Board dismissed the appeal for increased compensation for dependents as the appellant requested to withdraw her appeal.

The Veteran is granted a 60 percent rating for his left upper extremity radial nerve paralysis as of September 17, 2018. The maximum schedular rating available under the applicable diagnostic code has been awarded.

The Board denied service connection for combined variable immunodeficiency (CVID) related to Camp Lejeune exposure, finding that the disability was not incurred or aggravated by service and is a congenital disease.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The Board found that his symptoms did not more closely approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a T4 burst fracture with neuropathic pain are granted at a 20 percent rating from May 18, 2010 to November 23, 2020 and increased to 40 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining the surviving spouse's death certificate and incorrectly determining that her assisted living facility fees were used for VA pension purposes, which could affect the reimbursement of last expenses.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA examination to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset and continuity of her symptoms, as well as whether her thumb disorder is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hand disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The claims will be reviewed again with a new examination and consideration of the Veteran's service-related complaints.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and there is no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has found that a remand is necessary to obtain information from the Social Security Administration regarding whether the Appellant filed for benefits with SSA after her husband's death. The case will be readjudicated following this development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and readjudication due to new evidence being added to his case file. The issues include seeking an initial compensable rating under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dental problems, tooth #20, and service connection for injury to the jaw and loss of lower teeth secondary to radiation therapy for service-connected throat cancer.