Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a disorder claimed as high fever, weakness and malaise, and for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder and organic mood disorder.

The veteran's private medical expenses incurred on March 15, 2001, and March 29, 2001 were reimbursed as they fell under the criteria for reimbursement in a medical emergency where VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his cholangiocarcinoma to his service in Vietnam.

The veteran's service is not considered qualifying service for VA pension benefits, and the appellant does not meet the requirements to establish basic eligibility for VA non-service-connected death pension benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and an earlier effective date for PTSD. The claim for residuals of a left hip injury was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board finds that nicotine dependence was incurred in military service and grants service connection for carcinoma of the pharyngeal wall and tongue.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, acute myocardial infarction and coronary arteriosclerosis, was not related to service-connected conditions or a contributory cause of death due to service. The appellant could not establish that her husband sustained a head injury in service which contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Board found that the April 1973 rating decision denying service connection for an allergy to bee sting and mosquito bites did not contain clear and unmistakable error.

The veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development of his medical records and for a VA examination. The issues include service connection for equilibrium dysfunction, partial stomach removal, an increased rating for hemorrhoids, and TDIU.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left eye disorder in service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current left eye vision loss is not related to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda may be related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain pertinent medical records and a medical opinion regarding the onset of the veteran's uterine fibroids during her period of service.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a schizoaffective disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death has been submitted. The appeal is granted as the claim is reopened.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including verifying stressors related to service.

The veteran's request to reduce his disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for right epididymorchitis was denied as the law does not allow partial renouncement of VA compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA medical opinion to determine if the veteran's current rectal cancer is related to his service.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, attributing it to his chronic alcoholism.

The veteran's application for enrollment in the VA healthcare system was denied due to his status as a non-service-connected veteran and the financial information provided.

The veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability was found to not warrant an initial rating in excess of 20 percent prior to October 13, 1989 or 50 percent from that date. The appeal is denied.