Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension because he did not meet basic eligibility requirements due to serving fewer than 90 days on active duty and having no service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for right leg injury and right foot pain due to outstanding service records not being obtained. The Veteran's National Guard personnel and treatment records need to be obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lupus, loss of eyesight secondary to lupus, and chest pain secondary to lupus due to incomplete verification of his National Guard service records and a need for further medical opinions.

The Board has decided that further development is needed for the Veteran's VR&E benefits appeal, and the case will be returned to the RO for consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral pes cavus was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and needs a new opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral upper extremity symptoms, including Reynaud’s syndrome and Bell's palsy.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip bursitis as secondary to the already service-connected bilateral pes planus. However, it denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder other than the already service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased evaluations for bilateral knee disabilities and entitlement to SMC based on loss of use of the Veteran's feet due to procedural errors in the previous decision.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer, which is considered a new and material condition based on evidence not previously submitted. The Board found that this cancer was likely caused by herbicide exposure during active duty service.

The Board has decided that A.G. and C.L. are eligible to agent fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the June 2018 Board decision and August 2018 rating decision which effectuated the grant of TDIU. However, the issue of whether C.L. is eligible for payment of attorney fees needs to be addressed by issuing an SOC. The amount of fees to be paid to A.G. and C.L., if they are both determined eligible, must be decided by the VA Office of General Counsel (OGC).

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricability of the issues, specifically regarding service connection for an eye disorder and a blood clot. The decision on one issue could significantly impact the other.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal distension, bloating, nausea, and frequent semi-formed stool, are considered an undiagnosed Gulf War illness. The Board found that the Veteran served in Iraq during the Persian Gulf War and exhibited signs of chronic disability related to this illness during his service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for right lower extremity meralgia paresthetica (claimed as peripheral neuropathy) was denied. The Board found that the evidence supported a finding of mild incomplete paralysis, which equates to a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for dependency benefits based on his child attending school was denied as the earliest possible date of entitlement is one year before the claim was filed, which corresponds to September 1, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to glioblastoma multiforme, finding no link between the condition and service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's increased ratings for right knee and ankle disabilities, as well as his TDIU claims prior to January 26, 2009, were denied by the Board. The Veteran's TDIU claim after April 1, 2009 was also denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 21, 2010 for the addition of the Veteran's current spouse to his VA disability compensation award. An earlier effective date is denied as there was no evidence of a marriage prior to this date.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) for further development. The Veteran needs to complete and return a VA Form 21-8940, Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected vulvovaginitis requires continuous treatment for her symptoms, which qualifies her for a 30 percent rating.