Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA opinion regarding the cause of death.

The appeal is being remanded due to the appellant not responding to a request for clarification of his hearing selection, and the Board must address this issue before any further appellate review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for skin growths, finding no current disability and noting that there is no evidence of a link between his military service and any skin condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the authority to make payments under the VRAP ended on March 31, 2014. The Veteran is not entitled to receive VA educational assistance benefits under VRAP beyond May 17, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after rescheduling the hearing.

The Veteran's VA benefits were retroactively discontinued from June [redacted], 2010, to March [redacted], 2011, based on fugitive felon status. The Board is unable to discern whether and/or how long the Veteran was in violation of his probation.

The Board has determined that the January 2015 VA examination report is inadequate and requires a supplemental medical opinion to address the relationship between the Veteran's left eye disabilities and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for ALS and related conditions, effective December 23, 2014. The Veteran's original claim was received on the same date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA medical records and a possible examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date of May 21, 2007, for the grant of nonservice-connected and special monthly pension benefits, finding that there was no legal basis to assign such a date.

The Veteran's cause of death was caused by intracranial hemorrhage, and the significant condition contributing to death was chronic myelogenous leukemia. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's chronic myelogenous leukemia was etiologically related to exposure to an herbicide agent in service for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia is not considered to be proximately caused by the VA medical treatment, including the morphine prescribed for his foot surgery. The Veteran should undergo another VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left hallux valgus and bilateral knee disabilities, as these conditions may impact his ability to work.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for epiretinal membrane, vitreous degeneration, and cataract, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a hernia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected irregular right leaf of diaphragm, finding that there was no evidence supporting a direct relationship between the two conditions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's metastatic colon cancer, which caused his death from liver failure, was related to herbicide exposure during service. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a liver disorder, which he claims is related to his active duty service and prescribed medications. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the case can be fully adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected peroneal tendonitis. The Veteran will be given an appropriate period of time to respond.

The Veteran's pelvic fractures with traumatic deformity of pubic symphysis and right acetabulum with degenerative changes to both sacroiliac joints were granted an increased rating of 20 percent effective March 27, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's thymoma, which was surgically removed in November 1984, was not incurred in or otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's right hip disability is shown to have been manifested by flexion to no less than 80 degrees, extension to no less than 5 degrees, and abduction to no less than 10 degrees. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right hip trochanteric bursitis with degenerative changes is not warranted.