Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a Travel Board hearing in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the relationship between her service-connected disabilities and her hysterectomy, as well as an opinion on whether she is unemployable due to her service-connected conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's currently diagnosed low back condition is related to his period of military service and grants service connection for a low back disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for atrial fibrillation, s/p pacemaker implant and presbyopia. The evidence submitted since the previous denial is not considered new and material.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and treatment records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's varicose veins of the right leg began in service and were continuous after service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's non-ischemic cardiomyopathy is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals head injury prior to October 23, 2008 was denied as there is no evidence of multi-infarct dementia associated with brain trauma.

The Veteran's spouse was eligible for Medicare benefits and no longer qualified for CITI program benefits. The VA provided the medications until her eligibility changed to a 'Humanitarian Emergency' basis, but she was billed after that.

The Veteran's undifferentiated connective tissue disease with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome was granted a 10 percent rating for the period prior to December 23, 2009 and a 60 percent rating since then.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypocellular myelodysplastic syndrome is as likely as not related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides during service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant and the Veteran held themselves out as husband and wife, lived together in Alabama after their divorce, and were recognized by public members. Therefore, a common-law marriage is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by a brain neoplasm, which is related to his service and exposure to environmental hazards in Saudi Arabia. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's breast cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The other issues were also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia is related to his exposure to ionizing radiation during service, and he meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board found that cancer of the tongue was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including as due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's shell fragment wound, right lower thoracic spine area, with retained fragment, is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher due to the current manifestations of a moderate muscle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his bilateral buttock, right leg, and left leg disabilities have been denied. His diabetes mellitus type 2 has been granted a 10% rating prior to September 17, 2009, but not in excess of that.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a lack of clarity in the March 2010 examination regarding whether presbyopia is a congenital defect or disease, and if so, whether it was aggravated by service.