Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board finds that the veteran's liver infection is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, and there are no service records indicating fevers of undetermined origin. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA cardiologist with the necessary information to determine if the veteran's service-connected condition contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms are related to service.

The Board found that the January 1996 rating decision denying service connection for enlarged prostate and gall bladder disease did not include clear and unmistakable error, and thus the claims are not reopened.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's residuals of compression fracture of L3 vertebra, which is more than the initial 10 percent assigned by the RO. The condition manifests with pain, moderate limitation of motion, spasm, and degenerative disease of the lumbar spine.

The veteran's skin and respiratory/sleep disabilities were not found to be related to service, and his thoracic spine, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities did not warrant increased ratings.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service and therefore is not eligible for VA benefits.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation benefits for his spouse was denied. The RO assigned the earliest possible effective date based on receipt of the claim, but determined this to be CUE and corrected it to one year prior.

The Board has granted an increased rate of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities, including loss of use of lower extremities and neurogenic bladder/bowel with impaired sphincter control. The effective date remains pending as it is being remanded.

The veteran died of metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma, which is not service-connected. The Board denied both the claim for service connection and the accrued benefits claim due to lack of pending claims at the time of death.

The appellant is not eligible for VA DIC, death and accrued benefits as the remarried widow of a veteran due to her remarriage after age 57.

The Board found that the veteran's November 1983 motorcycle accident was caused by his willful misconduct and alcohol intoxication, resulting in a denial of service connection for the neck injury.

The veteran's emergency medical services provided by Gila River Emergency Medical Services and Chandler Regional Hospital were deemed necessary due to a severe testicle pain condition. The claim is granted as the conditions met for payment under VA regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's macular degeneration existed before service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's arthritis was not present in service, nor did it manifest within one year of discharge. The Board denied the claim for service connection as there is no competent medical evidence showing that his arthritis manifested during service.

The case is being remanded for a video conference hearing before the RO.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of traumatic encephalopathy warrant a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability evaluation for gouty arthritis with degenerative joint disease of the feet bilaterally, effective from the date of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing notice under Dingess/Hartman and Kent v. Nicholson.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability related to his head injury sustained during service, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.