Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board found that the Veteran's idiopathic cardiomyopathy did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service, nor was it incurred or aggravated during his active duty service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection based on ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA as he had no qualifying periods in those categories at the time of his first myocardial infarction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to missing evidence and the need for additional examinations. The issues are whether he is entitled to service connection for a right ear disability, claimed as nerve problems and cyst, and an increased evaluation for otitis media.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional development needed, including confirmation of the Veteran's income and child support status.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated dose estimates from the DTRA and referring the claim to the VA Under Secretary for Benefits for an opinion on whether sound scientific medical evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's colon cancer resulted from ionizing radiation exposure during service.

The Veteran's right knee replacement residuals are rated at a 60 percent evaluation since September 19, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to scheduling issues for a BVA Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the AOJ to schedule another videoconference hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's torn left calf muscle and assigned a 10 percent rating for its residuals, finding that the symptoms align with a moderate muscle disability.

The appellant was not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits due to her divorce from him in 1976 and lack of evidence of a valid common law marriage at the time of his death.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to the need for additional information from a physician and an updated financial status report. The issues of service connection for the cause of death and VA nonservice-connected death pension benefits are pending.

The appellant is seeking VA death benefits for her deceased husband, who she claims had valid military service as a member of the organized guerrilla forces with the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) during World War II. The appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence of qualifying service and inadequate notice.

The Veteran's widow was not entitled to payment of pension benefits for the period from March 2009 until she died, and accrued benefits based on such entitlement are not warranted.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for verification of service from the appropriate service department.

The appellant seeks to establish his entitlement as a Veteran for the purpose of receiving a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund. The VA is remanding this case due to insufficient verification of service, and requests that the appellant provide additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neurocardiogenic syncope with cardioinhibitory mechanism and drug toxicity warrants a rating of 30 percent effective January 30, 2014. Prior to this date, the disability was rated as 20 percent.

The Board finds that the effective date of October [redacted], 2008 is correct for the reduction in compensation rate due to incarceration. The Veteran's disagreement was not about the effective date but rather about the overpayment calculation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for verification of service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the recognized guerillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Veteran's liver cancer is found to be related to his service as a water purification specialist in Vietnam, despite the VA examiner's initial opinion that it was less likely caused by exposure to clonorchis sinensis. The case has been remanded for further examination and consideration of medical literature.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for further development and examination, including obtaining outstanding VA medical records and arranging for a VA examination of his left leg.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertrophic gastritis did not result in symptoms such as anemia, weight loss, or recurrent incapacitating episodes at any point during the period on appeal. Therefore, her claim for a higher rating was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of urethrovaginal fistula and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.