Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the veteran for purposes of VA death benefits due to multiple remarriages following the veteran's death in May 1964.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the veteran's postgastrectomy syndrome, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for such an evaluation.

The Board found that lymphocytosis was not manifested in service and is not shown to be related to service or any exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's minimal lymphocytosis had no relationship to his active service or to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's ulcerative colitis with dysplasia and adenocarcinoma, finding no evidence of a causal relationship to his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative residuals of bilateral cataracts were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran sustained shrapnel wounds to his legs, chest, and lip during service in Vietnam. As these injuries occurred during combat operations, they are presumed incurred in service. The Board also found no evidence of current residuals from these wounds.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and found that the veteran did not meet the eligibility requirements for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA).

The Board has determined that the veteran's organic brain syndrome is not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected malaria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's carious teeth do not meet the criteria for service connection for VA compensation purposes, as they are considered treatable and may be considered solely for the purpose of determining eligibility for outpatient dental treatment.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that there was no evidence to support his claim and concluding that any acquired back disorder is not related to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for tonsillitis, which resulted in a denial.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fracture of the head of the left (minor) humerus does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for trigeminal neuralgia, finding that it did not begin during or as a result of his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, finding no evidence of such condition during or within one year after service and concluding that it is not related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has found that the appellant's pulmonary and gastrointestinal disabilities are related to service, with reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the veteran's fatal pancreatic cancer, which caused his death, was related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board found no evidence of current Reiter's syndrome and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for emphysema, which is alleged to be due to tobacco use starting in service and carbon monoxide exposure, cannot be granted as it falls under a law that bars such claims received by the VA after June 9, 1998. The evidence does not support a finding of chronicity or continuity of symptoms related to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's effective date for death pension benefits should be based on her claim received in April 2001, rather than her initial January 2001 claim. The RO had previously denied her claim due to a February 2001 statement being considered a renouncement of benefits.