Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic anemia had its onset during service and has been continuous since discharge, warranting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to the need for aid and attendance was denied because he did not report for a VA medical examination. The Board also found that the Veteran is competent.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate May 2014 VA examination, and needs clarification on whether the Veteran's fungal infections arose during service or are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted based on his multiple service-connected disabilities, including his right second toe injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of schizoaffective disorder was denied in April 2003 due to lack of evidence linking the current condition to his military service. The RO reopened the claim in April 2010, but denied it again as new medical records did not establish a relationship between the disability and service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's current cardiovascular disability is etiologically related to his military service, specifically tachycardia during active service in Korea. The issue of Agent Orange exposure remains unresolved.

The Board finds that the Veteran's varicose veins were not incurred in or related to his active service and are not caused by any of his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, he is not entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance/housebound status.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service, and thus could not establish a presumption of exposure. The cause of death was refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is not presumed to be related to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service during the Lebanon Conflict is not considered wartime service, and thus he does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran is seeking an effective date prior to August 31, 2010 for the grant of service connection for CAD. However, as the amended regulation listing IHD including CAD as presumptively related to herbicide exposure became effective on that date, and the Veteran did not file a claim until December 2010, which was within one year of the effective date, the correct effective date is August 31, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to an audio malfunction during his November 2015 video hearing, and he has requested a personal hearing before the Board at the RO.

The Veteran's discharge was due to a personality disorder that interfered with her performance of duty, and she is not eligible for additional Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) educational benefits as her total amount of eligibility has already been awarded based on the months served.

The Veteran's service does not meet the threshold criteria for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits, as he did not serve during a period of war. Therefore, his claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to her death, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Veteran withdrew her claim of entitlement to service connection for mitral valve prolapse during the October 2014 hearing. The dental disorder issue remains.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his abdominal hernia disability. The TDIU claim will also be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for emphysema and silicosis were denied. The claim for an effective date earlier than July 9, 2012, for the grant of service connection for asbestosis with pleural plaques was also denied.,The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is in appellate status.

The Veteran's service-connected prostatitis has resulted in voiding dysfunction, urinary frequency, and obstructed voiding without requiring the use of an appliance or resulting in urinary tract infections. The Veteran's service-connected migraine headaches have resulted in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability since June 19, 2012.

The Veteran's right thumb disability, characterized by ankylosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint with a gap less than 2 inches between the thumb and fingers when attempting to oppose them, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.