Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of March 29, 2019 for his dependents P.S. and J.S. was granted by the Board. The decision is based on the fact that VA was first notified of their existence in March 29, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irregular heartbeat and memory loss, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination conducted in November 2017. The Veteran needs another VA examination that complies with the October 2017 Board remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30 and Chapter 32 due to incomplete development, including obtaining service personnel records and DoD documents. The Veteran is given a year to provide any additional evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU and Chapter 35 (DEA) education benefits were denied as he failed to provide requested information regarding his employment status, which led to the discontinuation of these benefits effective November 1, 2018. The Board found that the Veteran did not satisfy the basic eligibility criteria for Chapter 35 benefits due to the discontinuation of TDIU.

The Board dismissed the appeal of two claims: one for an increased evaluation of residuals, left patella fracture with degenerative joint disease and another for a temporary 100 percent evaluation for convalescence for left total knee replacement surgery. The decision is due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for DIC and death pension benefits due to a lack of evidence establishing her as the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral eye disorder, dental condition, and sleep apnea due to service-connected neck disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional records, schedule VA examinations, and provide an opportunity for the Veteran to clarify his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his periods of active duty service, particularly the period in Afghanistan in August 2011. The Board requests clarification from appropriate sources.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain as due to an undiagnosed illness is granted, but the case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his joint pain symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records from Emory Hospital-Midtown, Clayton General Hospital, and Dr. O.

The reduction in the rating from 10 percent to noncompensable for the service-connected bilateral calcified pleural plaques was not proper, and the 10 percent rating is restored. The Veteran's entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected bilateral calcified pleurae plaques and total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disorder causing insomnia, finding that his chronic insomnia is a symptom of his service-connected mental health disability (general anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for chronic urethritis and TDIU due to individual unemployability. The claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from May 2019 to the present and providing a medical opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected chronic urethritis on his ability to work.

The Veteran's service-connected right eye disability has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since November 29, 2018.