Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's service in the Massachusetts Army National Guard does not qualify for an extension of his delimiting date for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits because it was not considered active duty for training.

The Board has granted a special apportionment to the appellant, on behalf of herself and their minor children, in the amount of the dependency allowance that he receives for each of them from the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits due to financial hardship.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for right thumb, index finger, long finger, ring finger, and little finger loss of motion due to lack of evidence showing more than a 2-inch gap between the thumb pad and fingers or ankylosis.

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for groin strain, status post injury was not proper and is remanding the case to address this issue.

The Veteran's application for VR&E benefits, other than employment services, to pursue an MSN was denied as she had transferrable job skills and plans to continue working in the same career field with her current education.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits because she did not meet the requirements for a valid marriage prior to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that supports his claim.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent evaluation for the service-connected dysphagia, finding that the Veteran's symptoms of difficulty swallowing food and water meet the criteria for this rating.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the Veteran died during the pendency of the apportionment claim, making it moot.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for atrial fibrillation, including whether it is secondary to a pre-existing condition or aggravated by another service-connected disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD prior to May 28, 1985. The Veteran's August 1979 claim for service connection was not adjudicated due to his failure to file a timely appeal of the August 1980 denial and because he did not express disagreement with the decision within one year.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and left hip disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current hip conditions and his military service. The TDIU claim was granted as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's arthritis of the neck is related to service, whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral shoulder disabilities, and whether it is aggravated by those disabilities. The examiner must provide opinions based on the Veteran's service treatment records showing chronic arthritis in May 1999, the May 1983 service examination, the October 1985 separation examination, and the 1993 cervical spine imaging report.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability is related to her active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service or exposure to asbestos and herbicide agents.

The Veteran's right hip disability, including post-surgical residuals, is rated at 50 percent effective October 1, 2015.

The Board has found that the medical opinions of record do not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his continuity of symptomatology and have ordered another remand to obtain a medical opinion supported by a sound rationale.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of a back injury, including left side pain and left foot injury are related to an in-service injury. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's gastritis, finding that his current diagnosis is related to his active duty service and sustained use of NSAIDs for treatment of his service-connected bilateral foot condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any diagnosed skin disorders are related to service, including exposure to herbicides and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.