Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during service and whether his colon cancer is related to such exposure. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a gastrectomy was denied by the Board, with the decision being remanded to the Providence, Rhode Island RO for further action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for keratoconus has not been submitted, as the disability existed prior to service and there was no evidence that it had permanently worsened as a result of service.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a herniated nucleus pulposus with history of acute back strain, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The VA determined that the Veteran's tonsil cancer was not caused by VA treatment for hepatitis C, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's initial claim for a scar as a residual of excision of pilonidal sinuses was granted, and he is currently receiving a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, and her competency status for VA benefits purposes is restored.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left hips, finding that these conditions are causally related to an injury sustained during active duty. The Veteran's initial rating claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further development.

The appellant is not the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death pension purposes due to her divorce from the Veteran in October 2004 and lack of subsequent remarriage.

The Veteran's brain tumor with post-operative residuals was not found to be incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it presumed to have been due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran is denied basic eligibility for educational assistance under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code due to the expiration of his entitlement and lack of active duty service during the relevant period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's endometriosis and post-follicular cysts had their onset in service, leading to a hysterectomy with ovaries removal. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's period of service from November 13, 1970 to October 5, 1973 is considered dishonorable for VA purposes and remanded for further action.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal regarding the issue of reentrance into a VA vocational rehabilitation program. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of establishing eligibility for VA DIC, death pension, and accrued benefits due to her divorce from the Veteran in April 1994.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected gastrectomy syndrome contributed substantially or materially to his death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran does not have a disorder causing sleep disturbance other than his already service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Board finds that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder causing sleep disturbance is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's skin disorder of both hands was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for abdominal pain, status post partial gastrectomy, truncal vagotomy, and small bowel resection was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.