Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to hepatoma, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's elbow pain has been attributed to a known clinical diagnosis (medial epicondylitis) and is not attributable to undiagnosed illness or otherwise to any period of active service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits from April 1, 2008 due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rates.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to address whether any service-connected disabilities contributed to the Veteran's death by cardiac arrest and acute myocardial infarction. The appellant will be provided an opportunity to respond to the new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hip greater trochanteric pain syndrome, determined to be due to an undiagnosed illness during the Veteran's Gulf War deployment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Veteran's death was due to ischemic cardiovascular disease, which is not service-connected. The appellant did not incur any burial expenses and therefore does not meet the criteria for a VA plot or interment allowance.

The VA examiners determined that the sebaceous cysts and verrucoid keratosis are separate conditions with no causal relationship between them or to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board finds that arthritis of the right foot manifested to a compensable degree within one year of service separation and is etiologically related to service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to outstanding VA medical records from Portland VAMC.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals from a head injury or concussion was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service head injury or concussion.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for right and left knee disabilities have been granted, but the assigned initial ratings of 10 percent are maintained as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on current range of motion findings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder was denied, but his claim to reopen the previously denied schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and PTSD claims was granted due to new evidence.

The Board found that the appellant is not eligible for VA death pension benefits due to a lack of qualifying service. The appeal regarding service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for chronic pancreatitis was denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The evidence did not show any confirmed attacks of severe abdominal pain due to pancreatitis during the relevant period.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right eye disability related to the removal of a benign lesion in 1999, and therefore, denied service connection for primary acquired melanosis without atypia of the right eye.

The Veteran does not have a chronic disability involving the right little finger as a result or consequence of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by her active military service.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent disability evaluation is warranted for the service-connected olecranon protuberance of the left elbow throughout the appeal period.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has Crohn's Disease and whether it is related to service, including service in Korea. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's death pension claim was denied due to the Appellant's income exceeding the applicable maximum annual pension rate for a surviving spouse. The cause of death and right hand disability rating claims were also denied.