Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service manifestations or injuries related to sickle cell anemia, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection for a lung condition could be decided as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosed disability of the left thumb. The claim for service connection for a left thumb disorder is denied.

The Board found that the termination of the appellant's death pension benefits was not proper and restored those benefits, resolving doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Board found no credible evidence of a right leg fracture during service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neurological condition of the bilateral upper and lower extremities was not incurred during service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability present within one year post-service. The VA examiner concluded that the condition is less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart murmur was not shown to have had its onset during service and did not find a causal relationship between his service-connected hypertension and his current heart murmur. As a result, the claim for service connection for a heart murmur is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of overpayment of death pension benefits, finding that it would not be against equity and good conscience to require her to repay the $4,407.33 debt.

The Veteran's tonsillectomy was not shown to have any objective evidence of hoarseness with inflammation of cords or mucous membrane, and the clinical findings did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating prior to April 2, 2009. From April 2, 2009 to February 28, 2011, the Veteran's tonsillectomy was manifested primarily by hoarseness without thickening or nodules of cords, polyps, submucous infiltration, or pre-malignant changes. Beginning February 28, 2011, the Veteran's tonsillectomy has been manifested by constant inability to speak above a whisper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's colon cancer was not incurred or aggravated in service, including as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the Board to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and seek an opinion from a gastroenterologist regarding the cause of death. The case will be remanded for further review.

The Veteran's medical expenses at Mercy Hospital Anderson on March 5 and 6, 2011 were not covered by VA due to lack of prior authorization. The services provided did not meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding treatment records and a spirometry report.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a vision disorder, including sclerotic cataracts, secondary to medication used to treat his service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding potential aggravation by prednisone use.

The Veteran's fungal rash of the groin was rated at 10 percent prior to June 6, 2011 and remains at that level after June 6, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction manifested by irritable colon syndrome is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from February 15, 2013. The rating reflects the severity of symptoms including frequent episodes of bowel disturbances with abdominal distress.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as due to asbestos exposure during his military service, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for Crohn's disease as secondary to service-connected PTSD and for a variously diagnosed respiratory disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected digestive system disability. The claim of reopening a claim of service connection for a seizure disorder is being remanded due to outstanding records.

The Veteran's paroxysmal atrial tachycardia is currently rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of this rating.,Prior to April 18, 2013, the Veteran's hiatal hernia was evaluated as noncompensably disabling. Since then, it has been characterized by two or more symptoms (dysphagia, pyrosis, and regurgitation) accompanied by substernal or arm/shoulder pain, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.