Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and determination of the Veteran's eligibility for Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits.

The Veteran's surviving spouse was entitled to special monthly pension based on the need of aid and attendance, but she did not meet income requirements for survivors' pension benefits. The Appellant is seeking reimbursement for expenses related to her mother's last sickness and burial, but no additional unpaid benefits were owed at the time of her death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the decedent's death due to glioblastoma, finding that there was no causal link between his military service and his death.

The Board denied service connection for third degree burns and toxic epidermal necrolysis as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's conditions are not related to her active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for the right index finger disability. The claims for ratings, effective dates and other issues are remanded to allow consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anosmia is related to a head injury sustained during parachute jumping in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's duodenal ulcer disorder pre-existed his service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran is granted a refund of $1,200.00 for contributions made towards the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) education program and receives an amendment to her last monthly housing stipend.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of $3,503.00 was validly created due to a retroactive removal of the Veteran's dependent spouse from his compensation award following their divorce and remarriage.

The appeal for VA death pension benefits is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for residuals of left testicular torsion and head tremors/titubation due to insufficient reasons and bases in the January 2015 rating decision, failure to obtain all VA treatment records, and lack of a contemporaneous medical opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's death was not service connected due to lack of evidence linking his conditions to his military service. However, the PACT Act now allows for consideration of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune as a basis for service connection.

The Veteran's left leg varicose veins are not manifested by symptoms of persistent edema, stasis pigmentation or eczema, or ulceration. Therefore, the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current extent and severity of his service-connected disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the above issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in medical opinions regarding the Veteran's chronic myeloid leukemia and its relation to herbicide exposure. A new VA examination is needed to address these issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes, finding that the evidence is in equipoise and affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin rash and jungle rot have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The cases are now remanded for further examination and medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, particularly in relation to presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lagophthalmos, left eye trichiasis (entropion), bilateral punctate keratitis, and cataracts in his eyes. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has received additional evidence and is remanding the cases to the AOJ for consideration of this new information.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral dry eye syndrome with light sensitivity, effective as of February 22, 2022.