Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's skin disorders, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, are being remanded for further development to determine their relationship to service exposure to ionizing radiation. The VA Chief Public Health and Environmental Hazards Officer will revise the January 2010 opinion to address whether these conditions are related to his possible radiation exposure in service.

The Veteran's service does not qualify him for one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for a left lower extremity nerve disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service symptoms and continuous post-service symptomatology. The right lower extremity nerve disorder claim remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a left elbow or left great toe disability related to service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of left ovary removal was granted, with a 10% disability rating effective April 1, 1988. The appeal related to service connection and TDIU claims were not addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues related to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, including the nature and origin of his shrapnel fragment wounds in service.

The Veteran's right fibula fracture results in ankylosis of the ankle, which does not warrant a higher disability rating as he currently receives a 30% rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder, including skin tags, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic vaginal infections and condyloma acuminatum have not resulted in any impairment that would warrant a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current lung disorder is not related to his military service, specifically his pneumonia during basic training. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent erythema multiforme residuals are evaluated at a 30 percent rating, and the evidence does not support an increase to a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's fungal rash of the feet, torso, and groin is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service. The Board denied claims for increased evaluations for prostate cancer residuals.

The Veteran's lung cancer is presumed to have been incurred as a result of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound with metallic seam in the soft tissues of the posterior aspect of his left neck are rated at 10 percent, effective March 15, 1999. For the period since then, he is also entitled to a compensable rating for his residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left upper extremity.

The Board has determined that the reduction in death pension benefits effective January 1, 2005 was proper due to a recalculation of unreimbursed medical expenses and denial of burial insurance premiums as deductible expenses.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his cancers are related to service, including Agent Orange exposure and/or ionizing radiation. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of her TMJ. The RO must also obtain all outstanding treatment records from private dentists and other sources.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiac disability, including left bundle branch block. The evidence now shows that this condition may have had its onset in service and is therefore granted as direct service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for gallstones and also found that his TDIU claim is not properly before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed due to his death.