Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection of his DJD of the left hip is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral chondromalacia patellae is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current leg disability, including thromboembolic disease and varicose veins, is not service-connected. The pre-existing varicose veins were aggravated by service, but the current thromboembolic disease was not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of dental trauma and finds that it is warranted due to credible testimony regarding in-service dental trauma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The case is being remanded for scheduling a video conference hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has determined that the appellant cannot be established as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death pension benefits due to her remarriage.

The Veteran's service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis did not cause or contribute to his death from acute myelogenous leukemia and pneumonia. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that the service-connected condition played any role in the Veteran's demise.

The Board finds that the currently demonstrated TMD is likely caused by the service-connected Reiter's Syndrome and grants secondary service connection for TMD.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma and pancreatic cancer, finding that neither condition was related to the Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board found that the termination of death pension benefits, effective February 1997, was proper due to the appellant's excessive net worth. The overpayment in the amount of $28,978 was also deemed proper.

The Board found that the Veteran's eye disorders, including bilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca, bilateral pseudophakia, and capsule opacity in the right eye, are related to his service-connected blepharitis, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and bilateral cataracts. As a result, the appeal for these issues is granted.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's right elbow/arm disability is related to his military service, including reviewing VA treatment records and obtaining service treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mesencephalopathy and/or demyelinating disease, as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding dose estimates based on his credible reports of having swum next to and come into direct contact with contaminated ships at Kwajalein Atoll.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records from the Wilford Hall Medical Center and South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, Texas. The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his condition was an emergency and if VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board found no evidence of a current cardiac disorder and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to his in-service pericarditis, thus denying service connection.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of malaria or a medical disorder associated with residuals of malaria, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a deviated septum, left great toe condition, and herpes zoster were denied as there is no current medical evidence of these conditions or any nexus to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. This includes providing proper VCAA notice, obtaining a complete copy of the autopsy report, and assessing whether an opinion from a medical professional is necessary.