Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's mental health issues and service records. The decision is pending further investigation.

The Veteran's claim for additional VR&E services, including costs associated with postgraduate studies in strategic communications, is granted due to his serious employment handicap and the need for higher training.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment was denied because it was not filed within the 180-day period following the August 25, 2017, notice of indebtedness.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected conditions contributed to it. Specifically, a VA examiner will be asked to provide opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cerebral vascular disease and active military service, including exposure at Camp Lejeune, as well as its impact on his supranuclear ophthalmoplegia.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome and bilateral eye cataracts, both related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. Service connection for bilateral eye conjunctivitis is remanded due to insufficient examination.

The Board has decided that there is a need to review the Veteran's income for VA pension purposes, specifically his retirement and Social Security Administration (SSA) income. The decision also mentions medical expenses. This matter is being remanded so that VA can provide a detailed accounting of the Veteran's income throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided that the appellant's service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder warrants a remanded for further evaluation due to an increase in severity since the last examination.

The Board has previously denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, and after remanding it multiple times. The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court) set aside the October 2019 decision and ordered the case to be remanded again. The current decision is to remand the case once more due to new evidence received from the National Personnel Records Center Civilian Personnel Records.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his multiple myeloma, presumed due to Agent Orange exposure, contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hallux valgus of the right foot and a hernia due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is requested to provide updated treatment records, obtain any missing medical evidence, and submit lay statements from himself and others who have first-hand knowledge of his symptoms.

The Veteran's application to switch educational assistance benefits from Chapter 30 to the Post-9/11 GI Bill was granted, as he met the criteria for making such an election and his eligibility under both programs is not in conflict.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with previous examinations and compliance with VA regulations regarding functional loss.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for nonservice-connected survivor's (death) pension benefits because E.H.'s income exceeded the maximum allowable limit from August 1, 2009.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for cause of death due to adult leukemia, finding that the earliest possible effective date is March 14, 2017, based on the liberalizing law allowing presumptive service connection for certain diseases, including adult leukemia, based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's intent to file a claim was received within one year of this effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguities surrounding the Veteran's heart condition and a need for clarification regarding whether she currently has MVP and if it is related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for trachea and bronchus disorders, which were dismissed due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeals for annual clothing allowances for right and left knee braces have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's respiratory disorders are related to his active service, including in-service exposure to asbestos. However, further development is needed as the previous opinion did not fully address whether the current diagnoses are related to service.

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

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 19, 2014, for the award of additional compensation benefits for his adopted child M. is denied as the earliest possible effective date is February 19, 2014.