Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's shortness of breath, which he experienced during his service in Iraq and after separation, is due to an undiagnosed illness resulting from his Persian Gulf service. The Board finds that this condition qualifies under the provisions for compensation for undiagnosed illnesses.

The Veteran's addiction to prescription drugs is not due to VA carelessness, negligence, or fault. The proximate cause was his own failure to comply with VA's requests for medical records from private physicians.

The appeal is being remanded due to the appellant's request for a videoconference hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, specifically recurrent gastritis, based on the aggravation of pre-existing gastritis by PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected erosive gastritis, duodenitis, and esophageal nodule do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's motion to revise a previous decision granting an effective date of January 3, 2000 for his total disability rating due to progressive ankylosing spondylitis. The Board found that the correct facts were before them and no error was made in applying the law.

The Veteran's peroneal nerve palsy with left foot drop was not shown to be related to his military service, including any herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a pain management specialist examination and review of the record to determine if there are any symptoms not encompassed by existing rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic respiratory disorder, claimed as chronic bronchiectasis and restrictive airway disease, is being remanded due to the need for further development including scheduling of a VA examination.

The Veteran died in February 1981 due to pancreatic malignancy. The Board found that his service-connected nephrolithiasis did not cause or contribute substantially or materially to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his recurrent actinic keratosis with history of basal and squamous cell carcinoma is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as well as obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran had an appendectomy in service and whether he currently has any residuals from that surgery, as well as to review his heart murmur claim. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot pain is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine if his current right ankle disorder is related to his in-service injury and/or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of her left thigh disability, and for consideration of additional medical records.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, including whether it is a congenital defect or related to service.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a neck and head disorder allegedly caused by VA medical treatment in June 2007. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining additional medical records and an examination, is necessary to make a determination.

The Board found that the Veteran's condition, a reducible left inguinal hernia, was an emergent medical situation and that seeking treatment at HHMC on September 4, 2009 was reasonable given the distance to VA facilities. The care provided met the criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728.

The Veteran's DJD of the left hip has been granted service connection, and he is entitled to a temporary total disability rating from June 2009 to August 2009 due to his surgery.