Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for enucleation of the left eye, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's shrapnel wound to the left calf resulted in moderately severe disability, but did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 2 and 3, 2006 at a non-VA medical facility due to lack of eligibility under VA regulations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for postoperative septo-rhinoplasty residuals with a left deviated septum, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for gastric resection with vagotomy and hiatal hernia was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical examination and further development is required.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the lower extremities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The unavailability of these veins for use in coronary artery bypass grafts did not hasten or otherwise contribute to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's endocrine cancer is not shown to have been caused by secondary exposure to radiation in service.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of pneumonia. The Board has ordered remand to obtain the Veteran's complete Social Security Administration (SSA) record and to provide an opinion regarding whether it is at least as likely as not that his recurrent pneumonia and/or bronchitis or any identified residuals thereof are due to his service-connected asbestosis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for emphysema has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for spina bifida, finding that no new and material evidence had been received. The August 1953 denial remains final.

The Board finds that the Veteran's symptoms, including voiding 12 to 16 times per day and experiencing post-void leakage, warrant a 40 percent evaluation for detrusor instability and/or chronic cystitis.

The Veteran died with no service-connected disability and was not in receipt of VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, he is ineligible for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for eligibility for VA benefits due to a lack of acceptable evidence from the Service Department confirming her husband had service in the U.S. Armed Forces, and thus she is not eligible.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability is not related to his service-connected left ankle disorder and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The appellant is entitled to basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected death pension benefits as the surviving spouse of the Veteran who served during World War I.

The Board found that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the neck (claimed as cancer of the larynx) was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his crush injury residuals to the index, middle, and ring fingers of both hands have been denied as there is no evidence that warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.