Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and etiology of his May 2009 stroke and its residuals, including consideration of whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected aortic insufficiency / valve replacement.

The appellant's death pension benefits were denied as of June 1, 2009 due to excessive countable income.

The Veteran's thoracic tumor is not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure, but the Board has decided that VA must still consider whether it is etiologically related to service. The case is being remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right testicle disability, which has worsened since his last evaluation in April 2011.

The Veteran's arthritis of the thoracic spine is found to be aggravated by his service-connected right upper lobectomy, and he is granted a rating of 30 percent for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's aortic aneurysms did not occur during service or for many years thereafter and are not otherwise etiologically related to service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inextricably intertwined issue (pending claim for service connection for lung cancer). The cause of death appeal will be considered after this issue is resolved.

The Veteran's double vision and prostate disorder are found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The prostate disorder is not linked to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding whether the Veteran is competent to manage his VA benefit payments.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination to address the Veteran's claims.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not filed within the required 60-day period after receiving the Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disorder was denied as there was no in-service trauma or disease resulting in loss of teeth. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for recognition of medical expenses in excess of $7,716.50 and an additional dependent for special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound was denied as he did not submit probative evidence to support his claims.

The Veteran's cause of death is listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to metastatic pancreatic cancer. The appellant asserts that the pancreatic cancer was related to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, but this claim cannot be presumed since pancreatic cancer is not a disease associated with herbicide exposure. A medical opinion is needed to determine if there is any relationship between herbicides and the Veteran's pancreatic cancer.

The Veteran is not eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) educational assistance benefits due to insufficient qualifying service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on June 14, 2013 at Lehigh Regional Medical Center was denied because VA did not provide prior authorization and the treatment received was not for a condition that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed.

The Board found that the Veteran's overpayment of VRAP benefits was not validly created due to mitigating circumstances (accepting a full-time job) and thus he should not be held responsible for the debt.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bottom-row teeth disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected spondylosis with disc space narrowing of the lumbar spine has been rated as noncompensable since November 17, 2003. The current rating is based on pain and decreased range of motion, which are deducted from the pre-aggravation baseline level of disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's oropharyngeal cancer, squamous cell cancer of the right tonsil/base of tongue, and respiratory cancer is service connected as secondary to in-service herbicide exposure.