Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for colorectal cancer, finding that it was not related to his active duty or any incident of service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to more accurately rate the veteran's service-connected disability and determine whether there is a link between his service-connected rheumatic fever and subsequent cerebrovascular accident, poor circulation, and angina.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional evidence and determine whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits is denied as he did not serve during a recognized period of war.

The veteran's service-connected malaria and the residuals of rheumatic fever during service contributed to his death from congestive heart failure.

The veteran's claim for service connection for numbness in the lower extremities and feet is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his service-connected lumbar strain with compression fracture of thoracic spine.

The Board granted service connection for talonavicular degenerative changes of both feet effective from April 17, 2000. The effective date was changed to February 5, 2001 due to the veteran's clarification and submission of supporting medical documentation.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim for recognition of qualifying military service due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his claims for service connection for malaria and right leg and hip disabilities. The additional evidence submitted since July 2000 is considered cumulative and does not provide a basis to reopen these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claim for service connection for a cardiac pacemaker implant as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's appeal was denied as she did not meet the eligibility criteria for Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits due to her failure to serve a full obligated period of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in VCAA notice, and further development is required.

The Board found that the veteran's left-sided hemiplegia was not caused by VA medical treatment and did not find any fault on the part of the VA. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for a right nephrectomy cannot be reopened as new and material evidence has not been presented.

The VA denied service connection for respiratory disorder and the other symptoms claimed as due to an undiagnosed illness, based on lack of evidence connecting these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address whether service connection can be established for the cause of the veteran's death, including verifying in-service stressors and determining if a psychiatric disorder was caused or contributed to by suicide.

The Board found that the appellant, who was born in January 1958 and turned 18 in January 1976, did not meet the criteria for being a helpless child due to her permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18. The evidence showed she had completed high school and post-secondary education before turning 18.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the metastatic esophageal cancer did not arise during service or to a compensable degree within one year following discharge. The Board also found no reasonable basis to link the cause of death to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran was granted a total rating for compensation based upon individual unemployability effective August 12, 2000. This decision is based on the fact that he met the schedular criteria and could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.