Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia due to new evidence indicating a possible diagnosis of this condition. The Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era service may allow for presumptive service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for end stage liver disease due to a history of alcoholism secondary to PTSD. The appeals for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, bilateral upper extremities, and TDIU prior to April 14, 2010 have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a finding of current bilateral foot disorder, nerve damage, or arthritis related to service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits purposes due to lack of a valid marriage prior to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, nasopharyngeal cancer, is associated with his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility to receive a transfer of educational benefits under Chapter 33, United States Code due to the service department not having approved the Veteran's request for a transfer of entitlement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including consideration of a service connection issue and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility has been withdrawn due to the payment being made in full.

The Board found that the appellant's right lower extremity neurological deficit disability is manifested by mild dysfunction of the sciatic and common peroneal nerves, but not incomplete paralysis. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent for this condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sensory urgency of the bladder, which was originally granted in July 2006 with a January 20, 2006 effective date. The case has been remanded to clarify and assign the appropriate effective date.

The Veteran seeks service connection for Behcet's disease, a condition she has had since at least 1998. The VA is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination to determine if her current symptoms are related to her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout and a compensable disability rating for residuals of fracture to the right fifth metacarpal, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a neck injury, finding that there was no credible evidence to support his assertions and noting that he did not report any such injuries or conditions during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral CTS is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition. The claim for an increased rating for his low back disability remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right scaphoid fracture residuals was denied, and the effective date of a 10 percent disability rating assigned in July 2006 is also denied.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, as it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision, thus dismissing the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an upper respiratory disorder with coughing and shortness of breath, and a liver disorder, to include as due to exposure to depleted uranium, were denied. The Board found no competent or credible evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran claims improper treatment at a VA facility led to an amputation of his right leg, and he is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 1151 for this issue. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.