Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the appellant's net worth does not constitute a bar to VA death pension benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed residuals of a burn to the upper chest and neck, finding that it is as likely as not due to an injury sustained during his period of active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development due to an inadequate VA examination in August 2006. The case is now pending and will be readjudicated after obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The case is being remanded for additional development to reconstruct the Veteran's claims file and obtain VA treatment records.

The Veteran's corneal ulcer of the left eye is not related to his service-connected condition, and he does not have any compensable vision loss. Therefore, a compensable rating for this disability is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach disorder and a right arm disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain terminal hospital records from East Orange General Hospital and to seek a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected varicose veins contributed to his death.

The Board found that the cause of death, rectal cancer, did not occur due to service or exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death, and no other conditions were deemed contributory. The cause of death was attributed to pulmonary embolism or myocardial infarction with diarrhea as a significant condition.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against service connection for residuals of a hernia, as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to active military service. The Veteran's claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for Churg-Strauss syndrome, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right foot disability, manifested by moderate severe symptoms, is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5284 for residuals of other foot injuries. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity and nature of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected urethritis is currently rated at 40 percent, and the evidence does not sufficiently establish a need for an increased rating to more than 40 percent due to his symptoms being predominantly manifested by daytime voiding intervals of between one and two hours and nocturia occurring five or more times per night. The use of absorbent materials less than four times per day is required.

The Veteran's income was excessive for the receipt of special monthly pension based on aid and attendance prior to January 1, 2006. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, and he had a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for less than 10 years immediately preceding his death. The claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's CIDP and deep vein thrombosis are related to service or his service-connected conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on October 21, 2006 for treatment of a snake bite to his right thumb are eligible for reimbursement under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Board found that cancer of the liver, which caused the Veteran's death, was not related to service or any incident therein. The cause of death is therefore not deemed to be service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for chronic costochondritis is being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral pneumonitis and right knee injury residuals, but denied these claims on the merits.