Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board found no evidence of a relationship between the Veteran's current eye disorder and his military service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted. The issue of entitlement to a special home adaptation grant is referred back to the AOJ for adjudication.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate directed development.

The Board found that the termination of VA pension benefits based on fugitive felon status from December 1, 2003 to December 17, 2008 was improper and reinstated the Veteran's pension benefits for this period.

The Veteran does not have current residuals of spinal meningitis that are service-connected.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claims for service connection for right humeral head lesion, left biceps disability (non-dominant), and torn right biceps (dominant). The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are directly related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to be. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not continuously cohabit with the Veteran until his death, and therefore, she cannot be recognized as the surviving spouse for VA benefits.

The Veteran's post-operative fistula-in-ano is characterized by continual fecal leakage and occasional involuntary bowel movements, warranting a rating of 30 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of death pension benefits in the calculated amount of $22,523 due to her failure to file the request within the required time frame.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to military service. The Appellant has not submitted new and material evidence to reopen this claim.

The Board finds that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed materially or substantially to his death-causing dementia, and grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for myasthenia gravis, including as secondary to his service-connected Hodgkin's lymphoma. The examiner must provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran's myasthenia gravis had its onset due to exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam service and if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board has determined that the appellant was not considered the valid widow of the Veteran and therefore, her claim for recognition as a surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death was not found to be related to his military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hematuria did not have an onset during his period of service and is not otherwise related to his period of service. The claims for respiratory disorder, recurrent pharyngitis, low back disorder, and skin rash were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's waiver request was timely filed, and the case is being referred to the Committee on Waivers and Compromises for a decision on the merits of the waiver request.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for treatment at a non-VA hospital on July 4 and July 5, 2010 are denied as he did not receive VA medical services within the required 24-month period preceding his emergency treatment.

The Board found that the Veteran's income and expenses were such that repayment of the overpayment would result in undue hardship, thus granting a waiver of recovery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic adjustment disorder with depressed mood is causally related to his in-service diagnosis of adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and thus grants service connection for this condition.