Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, nor did any such disease or injury contribute substantially to her death. The cause of death was acute heart failure secondary to infective endocarditis.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the death of his mother, and no further action is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a neck fracture and cheek bone fractures were granted with an effective date of July 6, 1999.

The Veteran's esthesioneuroblastoma with loss of smell was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim is denied.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the Veteran's incisional hernia, right flank, post heminephrectomy due to the absence of any significant disability or symptoms that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder is found to have developed during his second period of military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional lower extremity disabilities he claims were caused by VA medical care from April 2001 to April 2004.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lung disability, including as a qualifying chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of any lung disability and whether it can be attributed to military service or is otherwise traceable to an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's service-connected skin and psychiatric disabilities preclude him from performing necessary daily activities without assistance from others, warranting SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of right hand tenosynovitis, proximal to the 4th and 5th metacarpals, claimed as nerve problems, incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his thoracic spine disability, including neurological evaluations. The case will be returned to the Board for readjudication.

The Board determined that the appellant's bad conduct discharge was a bar to VA benefits, as her misconduct occurred during active service and she did not demonstrate insanity at the time of the offenses.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board finds that the appellant is not eligible for death pension benefits due to lack of service in the U.S. Armed Forces, and thus denies entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The appellant's claim for accrued benefits was denied as she is not a qualifying child and her mother died prior to any potential payment.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic regional pain syndrome and instead diagnosed him with Reiter's syndrome with reactive arthritis. The preponderance of evidence shows this condition began many years after discharge from active service, has not been related to active service by competent medical opinion, and was not caused or permanently made worse by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted with a 10% initial rating from October 22, 2001 to August 30, 2007. Since then, the disability has been rated as noncompensable. The Veteran also received a separate rating of 10% for right knee instability effective July 13, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for nasal polyps, finding that the Veteran's current condition is likely due to disease or injury incurred in active service. The skin disorder issue remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for his increased rating and SMC for right eye disability, finding that no evidence of a prior application within one year before the increase in disability was found.