Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic left ear infection and right upper extremity numbness and tingling have been denied as there is no established current disability. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding of a current, chronic condition in either case.

The Board has remanded the case to schedule a Travel Board hearing at the Seattle, Washington RO due to the Veteran's hospitalization.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral optic atrophy and hyperopia with defective vision, finding that the Veteran's current visual acuity issues are not related to his service. The evidence does not support a finding of superimposed disease or injury in service.,Service connection was not granted as there is no medical evidence showing that any current eye disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to address the etiology of his prostate disability and its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The TDIU claim remains inextricably intertwined with the other pending claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's hirsutism is likely related to her period of active service and granted her claim for service connection.

The Veteran's throat cancer, including laryngeal carcinoma status post laryngectomy, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and cannot be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's respiratory disorders. Additional development is needed, including a VA examination and review of relevant records.

The Veteran died in March 2010 and the appellant applied for burial benefits. The Board found that the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits were not met, thus denying the claim.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current alopecia areata had its onset during active service. Therefore, service connection for alopecia areata is granted.

The Veteran's stomach disorder is not shown to be due to his period of active service and was not caused by or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current celiac sprue disease is related to her active military service and grants this claim.

The Veteran and the Appellant were not married at the time of the Veteran's death, thus the criteria for recognition as his surviving spouse are not met.

The Appellant withdrew her appeal for dependency and indemnity compensation, including service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board finds that the appellant may be considered the Veteran's surviving spouse for benefits purposes due to a separation being primarily due to the misconduct of, or procured by, the Veteran without fault of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim seeking a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund is denied as he is already recognized as a United States Army Veteran entitled to full benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for hidradenitis and finds that it had its onset during his combat service in Vietnam. The Board grants service connection for hidradenitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence being requested and consideration of the Veteran's bilateral foot disorder, which may be related to in-service herbicide exposure. The appeal is currently pending further development.

The initial grant of service connection for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was based on incorrect information regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty and inactive duty training. The RO determined that he did not have a period of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA when his irregular heartbeat was first diagnosed in 1994, leading to an erroneous conclusion.

The Veteran's lung disorder is being remanded for a new examination to determine if it is related to his service, including herbicide exposure. The appeal will be reconsidered after the examination.