Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits was received by VA on October 26, 2009. The commencing date of the award cannot be earlier than one year prior to this date due to delays caused by other organizations. Therefore, the appeal is denied.

The appellant requested to withdraw his appeal regarding whether the character of his service constitutes a bar to VA benefits. As a result, the Board has dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as respiratory failure, urinary tract infection, and small bowel obstruction with the underlying cause being pancreatic cancer. The Board notes that the Veteran had been exposed to ionizing radiation during his military service which may be related to his diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of the PWO-104 Certified Wireless Network Administrator test certification is being remanded to the RO due to additional evidence received after the July 2010 statement of the case.

The Veteran's pleural plaques due to asbestos exposure with pulmonary problems have not met the criteria for a compensable rating prior to August 22, 2009, or in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining alternate evidence from collateral sources. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a pulmonary disability and lipomas are related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations in December 2009. The Veteran is seeking service connection for chronic urinary tract infections and a chronic skin condition, both potentially related to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an epigastric ulcer and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a non-service-connected pension because his active service did not occur during a period of war as defined by Congress.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a prostate disability was denied. The reduction in the disability rating for residuals of bladder cancer from 100 percent to 20 percent was found improper, but this issue is moot due to the restoration of the 100 percent rating. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for service connection for a skin disorder of the feet. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional hospital records from the Veteran's August 2004 VA hospitalization. The case is now remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship to service, specifically herbicide exposure. The current evidence does not support a direct link.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disorder is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of post-operative left great toe fusion and arthritis, and therefore grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical records and to provide the Veteran with an appropriate VA examination in order to determine if his bilateral foot disorder existed prior to service, was aggravated by service, or had its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination to assess his service-connected right foot RSD.

The Veteran seeks service connection for actinomycosis, which he claims is related to his asthma and exposure to chemical agents during service. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clarification from private examiners and a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's squamous cell cancer is related to service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal for unreimbursed medical expenses was dismissed due to his death.