Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death, DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and accrued benefits due to lack of evidence showing a link between his death and service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a bilateral foot disability, including stress edema, is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his medical history and further examination. The Board will determine if any diagnosed disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's supraventricular tachycardia did not manifest during service and is not causally or etiologically related to his military service, his service-connected disabilities, or to any medications used to treat those disabilities. The other conditions listed were also not found to be connected to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further proceedings due to insufficient verification of the appellant's service with the Philippine Army and Recognized Guerrillas from April 1941 to April 1946. The claim will be reconsidered after the Department of the Army and National Personnel Records Center provide the necessary information.

The case is being remanded for the VA to obtain and associate all relevant medical records, including those from PeaceHealth. The Veteran's treatment at PeaceHealth on February 7-8, 2013 will also be reviewed.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for VA home loan guaranty benefits, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty and there is no presumption applicable to this condition.

The VA medical opinion concluded that the cause of death (hepatic failure, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the liver, and metastatic colon cancer) is not related to service or any presumptive exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's residuals of a fracture of the left humerus are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left elbow is not addressed in this decision. The claim for an increased rating was denied.

The Board dismissed the moving party's motions asserting CUE in previous Board decisions due to their death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by bad circulation of the upper or lower extremities, ulcers, or hypertensive cardiovascular disease and left ventricular hypertrophy. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's calcified granuloma of the right lung is not related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric condition, schizotypal personality disorder, is not service-connected as it did not manifest during active duty and was not caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's right leg disability is not considered to be caused by VA medical care, and the Board finds no additional disability resulting from the December 2008 surgery.

The Veteran's appeal for Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill benefits remains active, and he is requested to appear at a Board videoconference hearing. His request for an in-person Travel Board hearing has been withdrawn, but he prefers a videoconference hearing instead.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his cause of death and respiratory disorders.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disability, including a lipomatous mass and back pain. The case is being remanded to clarify the relationship between his current condition and his in-service anal fistula surgery.

The Veteran's ingrown toenails with loss of nails are considered service-connected, and he is entitled to initial compensable ratings for the scars associated with his gallbladder removal and colectomy. However, due to the mixed nature of the appeal (some issues granted, some not), a 'mixed' disposition is reported.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to issues related to service connection, including potential service connection for additional fingers of the left hand and loss of use of the hand. The Veteran's former employment as a mechanic is also in question.