Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board held that the Veteran's VA compensation benefits were properly terminated from March 2006 through April 2007 due to his status as a fugitive felon, and that the debt created through this termination was properly created.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing service records and attempting to correct military records. The appeal is pending further adjudication.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the submission of a request for withdrawal by his representative.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of adenocarcinoma of the prostate was denied as there is no evidence of a prior claim or intent to file a claim before July 23, 2008.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left lower extremity disability. The Board has determined that further development is necessary, including the provision of an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current vascular disability in his left lower extremity.

The Veteran was hospitalized at a private facility and prescribed Plavix for one year. He claims he needed to fill the prescription on May 29, 2010 but could not due to VA's pharmacy being closed during a holiday weekend. The claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's malaria is rated as noncompensable since July 14, 1947. The VA examinations and private medical records do not show active malaria or any residuals of the disease. The Board finds no evidence to support a compensable rating for malaria.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for left hand weakness, finding that new and material evidence has been presented. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, which may be related to asbestos exposure during service or due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim is being remanded for further development and medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current symptoms and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to a need for additional evidence and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for throat cancer, including cancer of the base of the tongue and neck, is being remanded due to a need for additional development. The issue will be reconsidered after further examination and review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected organic brain syndrome and dysthymia, as well as the status post fracture of the inferior and bilateral left orbit zygoma were denied. The initial evaluations assigned by the RO have been found to be inadequate.

The Board dismissed the appeal as moot due to the restoration of the prior reduction in disability rating for bilateral inguinal hernias.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported hospitalization for pneumonia during service was not supported by the available medical records, and thus concluded that a respiratory disability was not incurred in active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's lung disability, including obstructive and restrictive lung disease such as pulmonary fibrosis, was not incurred in service or caused by exposure to dust or diesel fuel during service. The main risk factor for his lung disability was tobacco use.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he had died before the Board could make a decision on his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for apportionment of his VA benefits during a period when he was incarcerated, finding that the Appellant did not qualify as a dependent and thus could not receive an apportionment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an examination regarding the nature and etiology of the appellant's bilateral patella disorder, which may have been incurred during her military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and further review is required before a final decision can be made.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current heart conditions are related to service, specifically an abnormal EKG in service. The claim will be reconsidered after this examination.