Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend his delimiting date for DEA benefits, finding that the request was untimely and not supported by evidence of conditions beyond his control.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for defective visual acuity in the right eye and a heart murmur, finding that these conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his terminal esophageal cancer, which led to his death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder was denied. The Board found that there is no medical evidence of record to support the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not ready for decision due to incomplete evidence and requires further development, including VA examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, including hallux valgus and pes cavus, are claimed to have been aggravated by his military service. The Board has determined that further development is needed due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the pre-existence of these conditions and their aggravation during service.

Your service-connected residuals of transurethral resection of submucosal bladder tumor with benign prostatic hypertrophy have been rated at 60 percent since September 18, 2009. This rating is based on the requirement for you to use an appliance or absorbent materials that must be changed more than four times a day.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for breathing problems and gastroenteritis. The Veteran is presumed to have an undiagnosed illness manifested by breathing problems and chest pain due to his military service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ichthyosis vulgaris was granted with an effective date of August 29, 2001. The appeal is based on new and material evidence submitted in July 2003.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the right foot is being remanded due to incomplete records and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and records from SSA.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death (stroke due to or as a consequence of atherosclerosis, with hypertension) was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's total vaginal hysterectomy is rated at 50 percent effective from April 4, 1999.

The Veteran's insufficient sphincter with bowel incontinence has been manifested by occasional involuntary bowel movements necessitating the use of pads since July 27, 2009. A rating in excess of 30 percent is not warranted at any point.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability in service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the current condition is not related to service. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bladder disorder, claimed as secondary to his lumbar spine disability, is being remanded due to the absence of current disability at the time of the previous denial. The case will be reviewed and re-adjudicated after an additional VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's dementia and vascular disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed due to a specific exposure (such as Agent Orange), and were not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. The claim for cause of death was granted.

The Board found that the cause of death, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, was not incurred in service and is not presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicides. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and the April 2010 aid and attendance examination report. The issues of a higher rating for his lumbar spine disorder, SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status, and earlier effective date for TDIU are to be reconsidered.