Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further procedural and evidentiary development, including obtaining a complete copy of the February 2008 VA examination report and requesting an addendum opinion from the examiner.

The Veteran's appeal for educational assistance benefits beyond September 17, 2005 was denied as she did not meet the statutory eligibility requirements.

The appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of receiving death pension benefits.

The Veteran's left clavicle fracture is rated at 30 percent, effective June 28, 2007. The Veteran's shrapnel wound of the back is rated at noncompensable (0 percent), also effective June 28, 2007.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of VA benefits due to her prior marriage and separation from the Veteran.

The appeal is currently in a remanded status due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The specific issues of reopening service connection and special monthly pension are not clear.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ) at the RO. The current rating decisions remain unchanged, and service connection remains denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of a left rib injury and a disorder of the left leg. The VA has ordered a new examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service, specifically the 1963 motor vehicle accident.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cardiac disability did not have its onset in service and is not related to any disease or injury in service, including herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection for a cardiac disability was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's cold weather injury residuals did not manifest in service or thereafter and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran does not have any additional disability as a result of VA treatment for his detached retina, and the Board finds that this is due to the natural progression of the disease rather than negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection. The chronic bronchiolitis with features of obliterative bronchiolitis and prominent bronchiolectasis with mucostasis and very focal organizing pneumonia is considered to be related to his active military service, specifically his Gulf War deployment.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for retroactive DEA benefits as her application was not received within a year of the notification that she was eligible, and thus did not meet the legal requirements.

The Veteran's family net worth is not considered excessive, given his and his wife's life expectancies, financial situation, and health. The Board finds it reasonable to consume the net worth for their maintenance.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, cardiac arrest, was not caused by or related to his service-connected brain concussion. The claim for accrued benefits also failed as no claims were filed prior to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to any incident of service, as T-cell lymphoma and pulmonary emboli were not shown to have manifested during service or for many years thereafter and were not otherwise shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and headaches, finding that his keratoconus existed prior to service and did not worsen during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gynecological condition, including HPV and secondary dysplasia of the cervix, is related to her service. The residuals from a loop electrical excision procedure performed during service are considered as part of this determination.

The Board found that any current skin disorder is not shown to be due to a disease or injury in service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye vitreous floaters were incurred in active service and is granted service connection.