Other conditions decisions — 2011

The appeal is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's endometrial adenocarcinoma is of service origin and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory arrest and throat cancer. The appellant argues that the underlying cause of death should be considered as including lung, bronchus, larynx, or trachea cancer due to exposure in Vietnam. The VA will obtain additional records and provide an opinion from a VA oncologist or otolaryngologist regarding whether the underlying cause of death includes these anatomical structures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left vericocele, status post internal spermatic vein ligation is being remanded due to the need to verify his military service and obtain pay stubs and retirement point documentation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and treatment records, requiring a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his heat exhaustion during ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease is currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there are no indications of severe symptoms or malnutrition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection of a traumatic right eye cataract with intraocular implant and determined that it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury. The rating assigned and effective date have not been determined.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for apportionment of his VA compensation benefits based on dependency of his parents, finding that their combined income exceeded the maximum allowable amount and did not meet the requirement of reasonable maintenance.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder and a bilateral foot disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating and TDIU was denied as his service-connected right foot condition does not meet the criteria for a higher schedular rating or entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right foot disability is not related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for a right foot disability cannot be granted.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiorgan failure, sepsis, pneumonia, and bronchiectasis/destroyed lung parenchyma. The conditions did not begin in service or due to herbicide exposure. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the bilateral feet was denied as there is no indication that he intended to apply for this benefit when he submitted a VA Form 21-4142 in February 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and hair loss disorder were denied.,For the period prior to March 1, 2010, his claim for increased rating of thoracolumbar strain was not granted. However, after March 1, 2010, he received a 50% disability rating for tension headaches.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mesothelioma, which caused his death in 1994, is related to his exposure to asbestos while on board transport ships during World War II. Asbestos was commonly used in military ship construction at that time, and the Veteran spent prolonged periods of time on these ships where he likely encountered asbestos fibers.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder and bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found no evidence of current hearing loss disability, and the examiner opined that any hearing loss is not related to military noise exposure. For the skin condition, the examiner concluded there is no valid claim as there is no documented hearing loss within VA standards.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain VA treatment records and private medical records related to the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder, including as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability or flat foot disability. The case will be remanded for further consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of shrapnel fragment wound of the left forearm, Muscle Group VIII was denied as his disability did not meet criteria for a higher rating.