Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for neck, left arm, right arm, and bilateral hand conditions due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's spouse provided testimony indicating that he experienced pain during service.

The Board granted an increase in the amount of apportionment to 20 percent of the Veteran’s VA disability benefits prior to July 1, 2016. The appeal for an apportionment after July 1, 2016 was denied due to the divorce between the Veteran and appellant.

The veteran's income from Social Security benefits exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, thus denying their claim for nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to receiving VA benefits. The claim is granted in part as it reopens the issue of whether the character of the appellant’s service is a bar to receiving VA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for essential tremor of the upper and lower extremities, finding insufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between his condition and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's stomach condition, including a gastric ulcer, finding that there is continuity of symptoms from service to the present.

The Board has found that the claim for an increased rating is dependent on a determination of the propriety of the February 2017 rating reduction. The inextricably intertwined claim for an initial compensable rating for testicular cancer must be remanded to issue a Statement of the Case regarding the reduction claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim that the value of her HLT should be included in her net worth for pension qualification purposes, as she does not own or control the trust.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for supraventricular tachycardia is granted, but the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal regarding basic eligibility to dependents' educational assistance has been dismissed as he/she did not file a notice of disagreement.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of establishing eligibility for DIC benefits, stating that she was not married to the Veteran at the time of his death and did not hold herself out as his spouse.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and TDIU due to satisfaction with current compensation.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for pulmonary embolism, diverticulitis bowl perforation, and hemicolectomy bowel repair. The claim for service connection for polycythemia vera was remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected ingrown toenail conditions, finding that they do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of chronic lymphocytic leukemia has been dismissed due to his death.