Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied an earlier effective date for spousal dependency benefits, finding that the earliest possible effective date is November 29, 2011.

The Veteran's Schnitzler syndrome is rated at a 60 percent rating, effective November 25, 2015. The claim for TDIU remains pending and will be remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for pelvic inflammatory disease and hysterectomy residuals due to inadequate medical opinions in previous determinations.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to be recognized as the Veteran’s surviving spouse for VA death benefits due to a lack of continuous cohabitation and separation not solely caused by the Veteran.

The Appellant is not considered a surviving spouse for VA purposes and therefore, is not entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), death pension, and/or accrued benefits for a surviving spouse.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gallstones and liver cysts, both of which were found to be not related to his military service at Camp Lejeune. The Board noted that there was insufficient medical evidence to establish a presumption of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an upper respiratory disorder, premature menopause, and a skin disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his left hand condition, as well as the severity of his lumbar spine disability. The Veteran is required to undergo additional examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left ring and long finger disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals, herniated nucleus pulposus, status post laminectomies was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew all pending disability compensation claims on appeal, including the service connection claim. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus, L5, prior to December 3, 2014, was denied. For the period starting December 3, 2014, the claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disorder, as residuals of a left foot injury. The appeal is being returned to the RO for additional development including obtaining updated VA treatment records and considering all evidence received since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for service connection for cause of death and aid and attendance benefits. The appeal was dismissed as there were no pending claims at the time of the Veteran’s death, and the appellant did not have standing to file a claim for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's chronic osteomyelitis of the right leg was granted a 60 percent evaluation prior to November 12, 2012.

The Veteran died of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, which was not service-connected. The Board denied the claim for service connection as there was no evidence linking the cancer to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for SMC due to need for aid and attendance or housebound status were denied as he was not service-connected for any disability during his lifetime.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding the rating of his chronic brain syndrome and residuals of a right calcaneus fracture with post-traumatic changes, as well as entitlement to TDIU. An earlier effective date of July 19, 2006 is granted for the 50 percent rating currently assigned for chronic brain syndrome.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking the cause of death (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) to active duty or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right forearm disability, previously claimed as calcium buildup of the right elbow and arthritis of the right elbow, is reopened. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is required to determine the etiology of his current right forearm or elbow disabilities. Additionally, a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) must be issued addressing the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right foot hallux valgus and scars from injury to the right elbow.