Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Board found that the Veteran's vocal chord disorder likely existed prior to his first period of service and was not aggravated by service, leading to a denial of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a spinal cord infarction is being remanded for further development and clarification of the VA examiner's opinion regarding the cause of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected Crohn's disease was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective April 26, 2001. The Veteran's residuals of left leg punji stick wound are currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil is related to service and exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Gulf War exposure. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for occipital neuralgia, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right hand injury and residuals of dental trauma, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, multiple pulmonary emboli and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, was not caused by any incident of service or related to his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a head injury, asserting that the condition is secondary to service-connected bladder cancer. The evidence did not show chronic residuals associated with this injury.

The Veteran's skin disorder, ichthyosis vulgaris, is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling and no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's Crohn's disease, including stomach and colon disabilities, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected fracture of the right leg were denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hand tremor first manifested during her period of active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's and his spouse's claims for an increase in the amount of special apportionment of their disability benefits, finding that J.B.'s monthly expenses did not exceed $1,200. The appeal was also denied regarding an earlier effective date for the award of increased special apportionment.

The Veteran does not have breast cancer or heart damage that is attributable to her active military service. Service connection for the heart damage claim was denied as it is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for waiver of overpayment of his VA pension benefits, finding that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for erythema multiforme remains at 10 percent, as the condition has been responsive to topical treatment and does not require systemic immunosuppressive therapy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, which is linked to his exposure to benzene during active duty. As a result, the claim for cause of death due to service connection is granted.

The Veteran's hysterectomy is not related to her service-connected intra-abdominal adhesions and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disease or injury.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability was dismissed as the RO's June 1999 decision, which granted this benefit with a March 2, 1998 effective date, is final.