Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board found that the appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual death pension rate (MAPR) for a surviving spouse with no dependent children, effective June 1, 2009, and denied her nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran's lung cancer was not service-connected due to asbestos exposure, and the Board found that his death was not caused by a service-related disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current skin conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left foot condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current condition and her military service.

The Veteran's glioblastoma was related to service and the cause of death, thus service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and for a TDIU due to inadequate examinations and incomplete development of records. The right hip disorder claim is also being remanded for an adequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence on service connection for a stomach disorder. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with additional medical records and examination.

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend her delimiting date for DEA education benefits beyond September [redacted], 2013, as there was no legal authority to do so.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, diagnosed as a panic disorder, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a panic disorder, was incurred in active service.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right hip disabilities.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence, including a medical opinion linking esophageal cancer to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board finds that the esophageal cancer is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected respiratory disability is remanded due to the lack of adequate pulmonary function test (PFT) records. Additionally, issues related to service connection for scars, dysphagia, and right upper extremity weakness are referred back to the AOJ.

The Veteran's recurrent rectal abscess is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds it should be evaluated under a different diagnostic code. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence and for an appropriate rating determination.

The Veteran's spouse did not have any pending claims for accrued benefits at the time of her death, so the appellant's claim for accrued benefits is denied.

The veteran's surviving child, A.R.P., does not qualify for improved death pension benefits because her annual income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate.