Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for obesity due to a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR) from the Court. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development and re-adjudication.

The Veteran's lymph node disorder, including Hodgkin's disease, was found to be incurred as due to active service and is granted on a presumptive basis.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain updated treatment records and a VA examination, and to consider the claim under the rating criteria effective from August 30, 2002 through October 23, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected status post anal fissure has not been manifested by extensive leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements or complete loss of sphincter control, thus the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have standing to pursue a claim for payment or reimbursement by VA for unauthorized medical expenses incurred in a non-VA medical facility from January 10-29, 2011.

The Board has granted service connection for left upper extremity ulnar nerve impingement, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his time in service. The claim for left hand numbness was reopened due to new evidence received since the previous denial.

The Board found that the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is not related to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation based on her dependent child, L.F., is denied as the earliest possible effective date is July 12, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's OCP and left eye vision impairment are not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by pancreatic cancer, which the VA has determined to be related to his presumed exposure to herbicides. DIC benefits are granted based on service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the RO has not addressed whether the appellant's annual countable income in subsequent years of the appeal period exceeded the applicable Maximum Annual Pension Rate for a surviving spouse without dependent children, and therefore remands the case to obtain updated information from the appellant and SSA.

The Veteran's claim for unauthorized medical expenses at Satilla Specialty Physicians on December 1, 2010 was denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and attempts to use them beforehand would not have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson.,The Veteran's claims for unauthorized medical expenses at Mayo Clinic-Waycross on August 24, 2014 and April 29, 2015 were granted as the treatment was deemed necessary due to emergent health conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for Legg-Perthes disease and found that it is related to his military service, with a finding that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative changes, spondylolisthesis, and stenosis, had its onset during active service. Therefore, service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease is productive of no more than mild symptomatology and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, cardiopulmonary arrest due to esophageal cancer and pseudomembranous colitis, was not caused or contributed substantially to his death by any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right Achilles rupture has been rated as non-compensable, and the initial compensable rating for chronic tendonitis of the right wrist was also denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an extension of the delimiting date beyond August 30, 2008, for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits due to lack of suspension of a program of study.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed left leg disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.