Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for further development and issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing his claim for an annual clothing allowance.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left hip disorder is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and grants entitlement to service connection for a left hip disorder.

The Board found that the appellant was not legally married to the Veteran and therefore, she is not recognized as his surviving spouse for VA death benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed cataracts are not related to his active service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's colon cancer was incurred in service, specifically during his additional service in the Army Reserves from 1980 to 2005. The medical evidence supports this finding as the tumor was located and removed during a period of ACDUTRA (additional training duty).

The Board has granted the Veteran's service connection claim for left leg varicose veins. The Veteran's preexisting left leg varicose vein disability was shown upon entry onto active duty and underwent an increase in severity beyond its normal progression during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and arranging for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any tooth loss due to dental trauma in service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for arthritis of the right great toe is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination records and treatment records from her private podiatrist.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits due to his discharge under dishonorable conditions and lack of active service during a period of war.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a gastrointestinal disability and the evidence does not support service connection for this condition.

The Board denied recognition of J.E.B. and H.A.B. as the Veteran's dependents for VA benefit purposes due to their not being his natural, illegitimate, stepchild, or adopted child.

The appellant's military service is not considered to be during a period of war, and therefore does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for VA pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be processed again with the opportunity for a new hearing.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right peroneal palsy is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cellulitis of the right leg was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to herbicide exposure. As such, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a back injury and chronic hip pain, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart murmur is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed disability of dizziness and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his cold injury residuals to the right hand was denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional evidentiary development due to the passage of time and receipt of new evidence. The Veteran should be scheduled for an RO hearing.