Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right head and neck, including associated residuals, is related to service exposure to environmental chemicals during active duty at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California.

The Veteran seeks reimbursement for unauthorized medical treatment received on October 11, 2010. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information and determine if the criteria for payment or reimbursement under VA regulations are met.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hand, finding that there was no current diagnosis and that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to his military service. The motion argues that new evidence shows arthritis in the left hand.

The Board found that the cause of death, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), was not related to service or ionizing radiation exposure. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not a surviving child of the Veteran for VA benefits-eligibility purposes, and eligibility for VA death benefits is precluded as a matter of law due to his age when he filed his application for death benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 20, 2011, for a 100 percent disability rating for his service-connected hypertensive cardiovascular disease was denied as there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability within the year preceding that date.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because the claim is moot due to his death.

The Veteran seeks service connection for severe mouth damage and loss of teeth, which he asserts is due to an M-16 malfunctioning and exploding in his face during basic training. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and clarify the periods of active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unsuccessful attempts by VA to obtain private medical records from Atrium Ridge Internal Medicine, South Carolina Heart Center, and Dr. B. Jackson that pertain to the Veteran's treatment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of partial lung removal due to a tumor, diagnosed as unicentric Castleman's disease, are related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected anemia was denied as the evidence did not show that her disability warranted a higher rating.

Based on the updated information provided by the Veteran, his countable income fell below the applicable maximum annual pension rates (MAPRs) for the entire period of appeal. Therefore, he is entitled to nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a dental disability resulting from an injury sustained in service. The Board notes that the issue of eligibility for VA outpatient dental treatment has not been adjudicated and is referred to VHA for determination.

The Veteran's service did not meet the required length of wartime service to qualify his surviving spouse for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a joint condition, claimed as arthritis. The Veteran's current symptoms are attributed to his military service and favoring one side over another.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was denied due to the corpus of his estate exceeding $200,000 and his income being in excess of the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory disabilities, including emphysema and pulmonary fibrosis, are not related to his active duty service or asbestos exposure. The claim is denied.

Service connection is granted for residuals of a septoplasty.,Service connection is denied for dermatosis paulosis nigra and upper respiratory infections.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hammertoes are as likely as not incurred during his military service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left foot disorder, osteoporosis, gastrointestinal disorder, and sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims were found to lack current diagnoses or a causal relationship with service.