Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, but with a condition that they are secondary to herbicide exposure. The effective date remains pending as no formal claim was received prior to March 29, 2004.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for strokes and left eye vision loss, including as secondary to medications taken for his service-connected erectile dysfunction and depression. The case is being remanded to obtain clarification of VA examinations and to provide the Veteran with updated treatment records.

The Veteran's left eye disability, diagnosed as a chorioretinal scar related to a previous injury during military service, was granted service connection. The right eye disability is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for osteopenia, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected seizure disorder. The VA has not provided sufficient medical evidence to determine if the osteopenia is related to the seizure disorder.

The RO reduced the Veteran's disability rating for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx from 100 percent to 30 percent effective March 1, 2008. The current medical evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for arthritis of both thumbs, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete information regarding his ROTC commitment and active duty service. The AOJ must verify all periods of active duty service, including their authority and nature, and provide the Veteran with a notice letter as required by law.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for adjustment disorder was denied as there is no current disability found.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied by the Board. The earliest possible effective date is April 7, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of costs associated with his commercial pilot certification tests taken in January 2008 was denied as he did not submit the application within one year before the date VA received it.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing VA records and scheduling a new examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected bradyarrhythmia with ventricular ectopy.

The appellant is not eligible for VA death pension or accrued benefits as she was over 18 years of age at the time her claim was filed, and did not become permanently incapable of self-support before attaining 18 years of age.

The Veteran's claim for more than 12 months of Post-9/11 education benefits is denied as he has already received a maximum allowable aggregate of 48 months of benefits under the provisions of Chapter 32 and the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits due to her divorce from the Veteran prior to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's post-operative residuals of bilateral hammertoes had its onset during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current left great toe disability is related to service. The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a left great toe injury and hallux valgus will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim for additional VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30 was denied as he has already used the maximum allowable aggregate of 48 months of benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's hernia was not incurred in service and is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to service, but granted service connection for a bilateral hand disability. The Veteran's current sleep disorder is attributed to obstructive sleep apnea and not related to his military service.

The Veteran's cataracts were not incurred in service and are not due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection for cataracts.