Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted for the Veteran's right shoulder disability since April 21, 2008.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 12, 2011 at the Memorial Hospital and Manor are granted for reimbursement by VA.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer was found to be related to his service-connected arthritis, which led to the grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board found no current left shin disability and concluded that the Veteran's current left leg complaints are not associated with a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's head injury residuals other than cluster headaches have not been substantiated, and his degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is rated at its maximum allowable under VA guidelines. His cluster headaches are currently rated appropriately.

The Veteran's widow is denied recognition as the surviving spouse for purposes of eligibility for VA non-service-connected death pension benefits due to her remarriage after age 57, which precludes her from receiving these benefits.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional information and evidence specific to the Veteran's participation in a scheme to defraud VA, including from educational compliance surveys and investigations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed condition of residuals of a head injury is not due to a disease or injury in service and thus, denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and translating documents.

The Veteran's service-connected GSW to the left thigh has resulted in symptomatology equating to a severe injury of Muscle Group XIII, warranting a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's hallux valgus, post-operative residuals of a right great toe, is rated at 10 percent prior to June 25, 2009. From June 25, 2009, the Veteran's painful calluses are also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disorders are not related to his active service, including exposure to radiation while stationed in Japan. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's residuals of a cerebrovascular accident are not service-connected, as they were not caused by any incident of service, including Agent Orange exposure, and were not caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected poliomyelitis disability was rated at 100% disabling, and the Board found that he met all criteria for payment of non-VA medical expenses incurred from December 16 to December 28, 2010.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to a hearing issue and will schedule another videoconference hearing for the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disorder is not related to service and denied her claim for service connection.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA cranial nerve V examination to determine the extent of impairment due to service-connected residuals of infarction of the left cerebellum.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be due to diabetes mellitus type II, which is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board found that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for clarification of his specific joint pain issues, additional development of his treatment records, and further examination regarding his sleep disturbance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and squamous cell carcinoma of the neck, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for the former condition. The decision also noted that the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange in service but did not find a causal link between his current conditions and service.