Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for dental disability due to dental trauma sustained during service, finding no new and material evidence since the November 2002 rating decision.

The Veteran's service is unclear, and the RO needs to verify his military service with National Personnel Records Center. The claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of colon cancer, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange).

The Board granted service connection for bilateral leg hair loss, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during his active military service. The other claims were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or link to service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal of the claim for service connection for a disability manifested by obesity, to include as secondary to a service-connected disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart disease did not have its onset in service, was not shown to be related to a disease or injury during service, and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's left elbow disability was increased to a 40 percent rating effective December 16, 2008. Prior to this date, the condition was rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including an addendum medical opinion regarding his lumbar spine disability from January 3, 2006. The TDIU claim must also be remanded as it requires a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is considered to have been a fugitive felon from December 27, 2001 to May 18, 2009 for VA compensation and pension purposes.

The Veteran's PVD has been aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and the Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that this aggravation occurred.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to paraneoplastic syndrome and poorly differentiated carcinoma, metastatic to the nodes and biliary system. The Board found that these conditions were not related to his service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disorder is not related to her active service and thus, denies her claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's cardiovascular disease was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in this case, including obtaining the Veteran's complete VA treatment records from Loma Linda VAMC and verifying his service dates. The claim for left eye retinal detachment will be remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from the examiner who conducted the April 2011 examination.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation was first manifested to a compensable degree within one year of discharge from service and is presumed to have been incurred in service due to lead exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis, left eye, finding that a 30 percent rating was the maximum schedular provided and no extraschedular rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that proper VCAA notice was not provided and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil, finding that it was not incurred in active military service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to ionizing radiation during active service.

The Board found that neither carcinomatosis of the abdomen nor cancer of the stomach had their onset during service, were not shown to be otherwise related to the Veteran's service or his service-connected disorders, and therefore did not cause or significantly contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of a deviated septum and rhinoplasty. The Board has determined that the current record is not sufficient to determine whether the Veteran's deviated septum clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service or was aggravated during service, so the case is being remanded for further development.