Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for dental disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination and notice issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's death. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, to include hysterical neurosis, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board finds that further development is needed to ensure the record includes sufficient medical findings to adequately assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected Raynaud's-like syndrome is not manifested by characteristic attacks of sequential color changes of the digits lasting minutes to hours, sometimes with pain and paresthesias, occurring 4 to 6 times a week or 2 or more digital ulcers. As such, his claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for Raynaud's-like syndrome is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected chronic laryngitis, status post vocal cord polyp, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating above 10 percent from February 15, 2006 to the present.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have an eye disorder related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for death pension benefits for the year 2007, but denied her claim for years following 2007 due to lack of information regarding her income and expenses.

The Veteran's service-connected gout disability is rated at 60 percent since June 14, 2005, due to frequent work absences and exacerbations that prevent him from working.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic skin disorder, Bowen's disease (solar keratosis), did not have its onset during active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected foot conditions.

The Veteran's jaw disability is being remanded for further evaluation and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records. The RO will then determine if an increased rating in excess of 10 percent should be granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for loss of sphincter control is January 16, 2001.

The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma is being remanded for further examination and analysis to determine if it is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran died in December 2004. The appellant, who claims as the Veteran's daughter, is not legally entitled to VA death benefits including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), death pension, and accrued benefits due to her not meeting the statutory and regulatory definition of 'child' for purposes of VA death benefits.

The Board denied service connection for recurrent urinary tract infections based on herbicide exposure, but remanded the issue of whether these infections are related to a prostate disorder that developed during active service.

The Veteran does not meet the statutory requirements for basic eligibility for VA home loan guaranty benefits, and thus her claim is denied.

The appellant's request for an extension of the delimiting date beyond July 24, 2010 for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code was denied as she did not meet the eligibility criteria due to her own educational choices and not because of a physical or mental disability preventing her from completing her education.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion from an appropriate examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current stomach/gastric problems.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current heart disability related to his military service, and thus denies his claim for service connection.