Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a hearing at either the Winston-Salem or Columbia RO. The appellant's request for clarification on the type and location of the hearing is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's loss of teeth due to periodontitis is not a compensable disability for VA compensation purposes and does not meet the criteria for service connection as secondary to his service-connected jaw fracture.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's balance disorder is not related to his service, including in-service acoustic trauma or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left hip and tibia disorders are not related to service, and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's esophageal reflux was granted a rating of 10 percent, effective December 14, 2011. Service connection for arthritis of the left hand was denied as not being related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and arthritis, is rated at 30 percent effective July 28, 2004.,The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and arthritis, is rated at 20 percent effective July 28, 2004.

The Board finds that the Veteran's essential tremor of the hands became evident in service and has persisted since, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete responses from the examiner and other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current chronic skin disorder or bladder disorder, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's complaints of breathing problems are not service-connected due to lack of specific respiratory pathology and unclear etiology.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental opinion from the August 2013 VA examiner to address the Veteran's left eye disability and its relationship to an inservice physical altercation.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, characterized as adjustment disorder with mixed emotions, was rated at 50 percent effective June 19, 2013. Prior to this date, the rating remained at 30 percent.

The Veteran's right and left thoracic outlet syndrome have been rated at 10 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, retroperitoneal sarcoma, is presumed to be due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was granted.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's death was caused by VA negligence during his October 2007 hospitalization, including an intubation that led to fatal aspiration pneumonia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pulmonary disability is not related to his active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work.

The Veteran and the appellant were legally divorced in July 1995, making the appellant ineligible for DIC benefits as a surviving spouse.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding income levels and unreimbursed medical expenses, as well as issuance of a statement of the case on the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.