Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected due to lack of exposure to herbicides and the Veteran did not meet the criteria for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his respiratory disability, as well as his claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected vitiligo. The issues are being remanded due to concerns about substantial compliance with previous Board orders.

The Veteran's appeal is about the validity of a debt caused by the removal of her spouse from her award effective November 1, 2004. The Board has decided that J.K., her former spouse, should be re-added as a dependent through their divorce date and removed from her award starting November 1, 2004. However, she disputes the amounts calculated by VA for this overpayment. The decision is remanded to allow VA to provide an audit of the new debt figure.

The Board has determined that the matter is not ripe for appellate review due to procedural issues, and it is remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to proceed with the case.

The appellant's DIC benefits were denied because she was over the age of 18 during a period when she did not attend school, and thus is not eligible for DIC benefits during that time.

The Board denied the appellant's request to be reimbursed for educational expenses incurred prior to June 22, 2015 due to a legal issue with her election of beginning date.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and analysis regarding the Veteran's polycythemia, including its relation to service exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete development regarding service connection for restrictive pericarditis, status post-pericardiectomy. The Veteran's representative has also raised a new theory of entitlement based on asbestos exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for a GI disorder and denied special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has restored a 50% rating for the Veteran's service-connected cephalgia, effective May 1, 2016. The reduction from 50 to 0 percent was found improper due to an incomplete examination and lack of sustained improvement in the condition.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no service connection issues were decided.

The Board has decided that more evidence is needed to determine if the appellant can be recognized as the Veteran's 'helpless child' due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching age 18.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that his glioblastoma was caused or substantially contributed to by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The effective date is set at October 1, 2001, which is the first day of the month following the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the standard used for a presumption of aggravation and inadequate reasons or bases addressing the Veteran's lay assertions regarding his eye disabilities.

The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the service-connected heart murmur, finding that the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for a substance abuse disorder, finding that the Veteran's use of illegal drugs and alcohol to enjoy their intoxicating effects constituted willful misconduct. As such, direct service connection was not granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for infertility or sterility as there is no current diagnosis of such conditions in the record, and thus did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's chronic blepharitis was manifested by active conjunctivitis at any time during the appeal period. The claim is being returned for further action.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the service connection claim related to the cause of death, as the previous VA opinion was inadequate and did not address all relevant issues. The case is being remanded for further examination and analysis.