Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death effective November 13, 2015. The Appellant's claim was reopened and remanded multiple times before being granted in August 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 16, 2019 for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of the left upper extremity is denied. The earliest possible effective date is April 16, 2019.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and therefore he did not meet the criteria for burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a failure to refer the matter to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU award prior to February 4, 2019.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease rating was reduced from 60% to 0%, effective March 1, 2018. The Board has restored the 60% rating for Crohn's disease as it is determined that there was actual improvement in the disability level and an improvement in the ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in processing Survivors Pension, Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), and Accrued Benefits claims. The Appellant's representative submitted a mistakenly omitted section of her VA Form 21-534 Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation or Death Pension by a Surviving Spouse or Child, which contained her medical expense reports. However, the residential care facility was not provided with the necessary forms to complete them due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment of VA pension benefits due to his failure to file within the 180-day time limit, despite receiving notification of the overpayment and the deadline.

The Board has determined that the Veteran sustained dental trauma to teeth #2, #3, #12, #13, #19 and #20 during service. As this is a direct service connection case based on in-service injury, the claim for treatment purposes of these specific teeth was granted.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal regarding earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA eligibility under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's right eye disability is related to his service, including an incident during basic training where he was hit in the eye while firing an M-16 rifle.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psoriatic arthritis is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) benefits above the 60 percent rate due to less than 18 months of qualifying active service.

The Veteran's claim regarding the apportionment of his VA compensation benefits for the benefit of their minor children is being remanded due to the lack of a statement of the case addressing the original contention that the apportionment should not have been granted in the first instance.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for her service-connected skin condition (pruritis with dermatographism) was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating based on the current evidence of record, which includes treatment records and examination reports indicating that her skin condition affects less than 20% of her total body area.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues not explained at the hearing and incorrect information provided. The appellant is offered another hearing if she desires, and her request for additional evidence will be considered.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for atrial fibrillation should be remanded due to incomplete medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder was incurred in service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's adjustment disorder and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain.

The Board has decided that the change in the Veteran's means test eligibility category from exempt to copay required for income year 2016 was proper. However, they have ordered additional development regarding medical expenses and SSA income status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a chronic respiratory disorder, including pulmonary fibrosis, finding that there was no causal relationship between his current condition and his military service. The appeal is based on alleged exposure to ionizing radiation during Operation HARDTACK I, but the dose assessment provided by DTRA did not support the conclusion that the Veteran's condition resulted from such exposure.