Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence and to obtain updated medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda did not onset in service or to a compensable degree within one year of service discharge and is not etiologically related to service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's schizoaffective disorder is related to service. The appeal will be reconsidered based on all evidence.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right elbow epicondylitis, effective from April 3, 2008.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the right lower extremity are characterized by persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with or without intermittent ulceration. The Veteran's varicose veins of the left lower extremity are characterized by persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema, with or without intermittent ulceration; however, they are not characterized by the combination of persistent edema or subcutaneous induration, stasis pigmentation or eczema, and persistent ulceration. The Veteran's varicose veins of the left lower extremity have been rated at 40 percent since January 14, 2013.

The Veteran's degenerative joint and disc disease of L5-S1 has not been productive of disability that warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current residuals of a left eye injury related to service, and thus, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's death was caused by a stroke, and the appellant is seeking service connection for this cause of death. The VA will need to provide an opinion on whether the stroke was related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for waiver of overpayment of VA educational assistance benefits, finding that the creation and recovery of the debt were valid. The Veteran was found to have withdrawn from nine hours of classes due to non-attendance.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of larynx cancer is granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his time in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that cardiovascular disease did not constitute a principal or contributory cause of his death.

The Veteran's pension benefits were terminated due to his fugitive felon status. He submitted a notice of disagreement, but the VA did not consider it valid and denied his request for reinstatement. The case is now remanded for further action.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Antelope Memorial Hospital on April 17, 2009 for treatment of gastritis were granted payment due to the emergency nature of her condition and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The Veteran's squamous carcinoma of the tongue and right neck is related to his active service, specifically presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board finds that direct service connection can be established.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence received, suggesting a possible relationship between the Veteran's cause of death and his service.

The Board found the debt valid and denied a waiver request due to lack of fault on the part of the Veteran, but also noted that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's skin disorder of the arms, feet and groin is presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam where he was exposed to Agent Orange. The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and development.

The Veteran's discharge was not honorable, and therefore he does not meet the eligibility requirements for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if there is a presumption of service connection for liver cancer related to Camp Lejeune exposure, as the Veteran served at Camp Lejeune and died from metastatic hepatoma (liver cancer).

The Veteran's bunion of the left foot has been rated as 10 percent disabling since December 17, 2008. The Board found that this rating is appropriate given her symptoms and findings.