Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board has found that the Veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The condition became manifest within a year of his last date of exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 22, 2009 for a 60 percent rating for his service-connected bronchiectasis and post-surgical residuals (lobectomy). The Board found no factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the May 22, 2009 claim.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Hot Spring Medical Center on February 1, 2010 were not reimbursable as the treatment was not for an emergent condition and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran does not have a current neurologic disability, or any current residual disability from the neurologic symptoms experienced in service. The Board finds that there is no valid claim of service connection for dysarthria (claimed as stroke).

The Veteran's emergency medical care for back pain on December 31, 2008 was deemed necessary due to the severity of her symptoms and the inability to safely transport her to a VA facility. The Board found that payment or reimbursement is warranted under the provisions allowing for such in non-VA facilities.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service, including alleged exposure to depleted uranium in Khamisiyah. The case is REMANDED for this purpose.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding both issues, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review them.

The Board found that the Veteran's esophageal carcinoma was not caused or aggravated by his military service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's service from August 2005 to February 2006 constituted active duty and whether he had any periods of service after September 11, 2001 that qualified as service under Title 32 authority.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for heart disabilities, including the residuals of a right bundle branch block pattern is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an opinion regarding the etiology of his current heart conditions.

The Veteran's brain tumor and right eye disability were not granted service connection due to lack of evidence supporting a link between the conditions and his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, to include cataracts, finding that the Veteran does not have a chronic eye disability other than refractive error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disorder characterized by loss of balance was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the Board found that the Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms were not credible.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is being remanded due to new evidence suggesting possible herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's dysthymic disorder rating is to be readjudicated on the merits.

The Veteran's eye disorder, diagnosed as central serous chorioretinopathy and pigment epithelium detachment, is related to service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and the Veteran's contentions regarding his back brace replacement.

The Board found that the service-connected left leg amputation did not cause or contribute to the Veteran's death, as pneumonia and typhoid fever were significant conditions contributing to his death but unrelated to any service-connected disability.