Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding whether any exposure to TCE in service contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death from hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was caused by his service-connected disabilities and presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is due to her service-connected menorrhagia. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than January 17, 2013 for the grant of service connection for emphysema. The appeal is dismissed as there was no current diagnosis prior to that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's child, A.H., from receiving death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for the years 2010, 2011, and 2014. The issue of DIC on behalf of A.H. is also pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left leg disability, including atherosclerotic disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and considering whether the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case addressing his notice of disagreement regarding the initial evaluation for left facial numbness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current vision loss and retinal detachment are not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's skin disability, characterized as sebaceous cysts, was incurred in service and granted.

The Veteran's right thumb disability is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 14, 2008. The current rating adequately reflects the Veteran's symptoms and functional impairment.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for pituitary adenoma, both as directly incurred in service and as due to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pancreatitis was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have chronic pancreatitis incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it secondary to his service-connected peptic ulcer disease (PUD). For bilateral hearing loss, a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to August 16, 2013, and ratings in excess of 10 percent from August 16, 2013 to December 8, 2014, and 20 percent since December 9, 2014, were denied.

The RO denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss in February 2004, and did not receive new and material evidence to reopen this claim.

The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility for VA home loan guaranty benefits is being remanded due to uncertainty regarding his service completion and payment status. The AOJ will verify the nature of his Reserve service and obtain leave and earning statements.

The Board finds that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's skin condition to his active military service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's skin cancer is less likely than not related to military service and the conditions he is service-connected for would not be etiologically worsened by the giant condyloma.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not qualify as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of VA death pension benefits, to include special monthly pension.

The Board finds that the reduction of nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective February 1, 2005, was proper. The termination of the Veteran's VA nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective January 1, 2007, was not proper; reinstatement effective the date of termination is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a thoracic spine disability, which is secondary to his service-connected cervical spine disability, has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for updated VA examinations and consideration of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal for non-service connected pension benefits prior to May 1, 2012 is being remanded due to unclear information regarding Worker's Compensation income and unreimbursed medical expenses.