Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran had a splenectomy during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for residuals of bowel resection has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bacterial meningeal disease and pulmonary pathogenic disease, both secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed disability related to his in-service cold injury to the bilateral hands, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of an appendectomy and vision impairment were denied as a matter of law due to his dishonorable discharge, which barred him from receiving VA benefits. The claim for PTSD was also denied.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a skin disorder(s) as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that medical examination and opinion is necessary to decide the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for xerostomia (dry mouth) as secondary to her service-connected juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. The appeal for service connection for memory loss is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records, as well as potential need for additional development such as a VA psychiatric examination.

The Appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of receiving death benefits due to her divorce from the Veteran at the time of his death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as a helpless child on the basis of permanent incapacity for self-support due to lack of chronic mental or physical disability prior to age 18.

The Veteran's service-connected right thigh SFW has been rated at 10 percent since June 2009. The VA examiner found no significant general occupational effects or any effect on usual daily activity due to the injury, and concluded that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 27, 2009, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disability. The decision is based on the fact that there was no increase in disability within one year prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for clonus of the bilateral lower extremities and a stomach condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the former claim. The Veteran's stomach condition was also not found to be related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination, and considering whether an amputation of the right index finger would be equally well served by the service-connected disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for one-time payment from the FVEC as he had no service in the United States Armed Forces, including recognized guerrillas.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for peptic ulcer disease and granted it, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The Veteran's history of ulcers preexisted service, but there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that his condition was aggravated during service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including an opinion on whether the Veteran's loss of smell and taste is related to service or secondary to his service-connected chronic rhinosinusitis. The examiner must also address potential effects of in-service exposure to petroleum products.

The Board has determined that the appellant's net worth did not constitute a bar to payment of death pension with aid and attendance from May 12, 2006, until March 14, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of additional compensation for his spouse was granted, with the effective date set at September 1, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected left lateral tibial plateau fracture is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.