Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for malaria, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Veteran has been granted service connection for a residual chest scar from an in-service stab wound, but his claim for lung residuals is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus and left leg/foot venous insufficiency do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, as his combined disability evaluation is only 50 percent. The Board finds that an initial rating greater than 10 percent for bilateral pes cavus is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disability is related to his in-service symptoms and service-connected PTSD, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's dysthymia is currently rated at 70 percent, effective August 19, 2004. The claim for service connection for dysthymia was reopened and granted.

The Veteran's insomnia and loss of balance are not service-connected, as there is no medical evidence or opinion linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to the need for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a more recent VA examination and additional treatment records, including SSA disability determination records.

The appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits because she was divorced from the Veteran at the time of his death and married to a different person.

The Veteran's status-post carcinoma of the right submandibular gland was not caused or aggravated by active service, including as due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's urethral stricture disease. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he is not service-connected for any disability, disorder, disease, or condition.

The Veteran's surviving spouse did not meet the criteria for VA pension benefits at the time of her death, and thus there were no accrued benefits to award.

The case is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records related to the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation and claim for reimbursement. The benefit remains denied at this time.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus could not be presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection for chronic myeloid leukemia was denied as there is no evidence of direct service connection.

The VA examiner found no evidence of an acquired psychiatric disorder during service and concluded that the Veteran's current cognitive issues are more likely due to age-related decline rather than any event or exposure during military service.

The Veteran's daughter is seeking to be recognized as the appropriate payee for accrued benefits, specifically for reimbursement of payment of burial expenses. The case has been remanded due to procedural issues related to contested claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a low back disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for resumption of VA benefits, finding that the earliest possible effective date is April 14, 2009.