Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's son, P.S., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support due to significant cognitive and psychiatric issues prior to reaching the age of 18. The Board granted recognition as a helpless child for VA benefits purposes.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for testicle removal. The Veteran's left foot skin condition was denied as not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Margaretville Memorial Hospital on September 1, 2008.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was caused by his in-service asbestos exposure, and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pleural plaques as a result of asbestos exposure is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical services provided by Brandon Regional Hospital, finding that a VA facility was feasibly available and reasonable to use beforehand.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a gastric ulcer is denied as her symptoms are continuous and moderate, warranting only a 20 percent rating. The service connection claim for a cardiac disorder, to include coronary artery disease, is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hyperacusis and nerve damage, as well as dizziness, both related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to a land mine explosion. The decision is based on the preponderance of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that the Veteran's OCD and BDD preexisted service, and were not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's current residuals of a fracture of the right 5th proximal phalanx can be reasonably disassociated from his military service, and therefore service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for service records from the Beaufort Naval Hospital, and the Veteran was given an opportunity to provide additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's carcinoid cancer did not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and there is no competent evidence relating this condition to any incident of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for carcinoid cancer is denied.

The Veteran's additional disabilities, including difficulty with ambulation and speech, are not deemed to be proximately caused by VA treatment in December 2002. The Board finds no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Board denied a higher rating for RSD of the left foot, finding that the Veteran does not have complete paralysis of the external popliteal nerve.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's residuals of a spinal cord injury are etiologically related to his period of service and whether it is at least as likely as not that his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and therefore denied his claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA medical care, and therefore DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Meckel's diverticulum is a congenital defect and not related to his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's left forearm disability was granted a 30 percent rating effective August 1, 2003. The RO also increased the Veteran's rating for his left forearm scar to 20 percent.

The Veteran's joint pain was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not a manifestation of an undiagnosed illness.