Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's cause of death, esophageal cancer, was not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a causal connection between the condition and his military service.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is being remanded for further examination and opinion to address the likelihood of its onset during service, causation by service-connected conditions, or aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred at the Munroe Regional Medical Center from December 11, 2013, through December 19, 2013 was denied due to a lack of timely submission.

The Veteran's period of ADSW service from October 2001 to May 2002 is found to be eligible for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance due to its support by Federal funds in response to a national emergency.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic constipation did not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to his military service, including symptomatology therein. The Board also concluded that the Veteran's constipation is not caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent disability rating for primary memory loss with insomnia is denied as there is no evidence of timely appeal, filed claim, or ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the June 25, 2015 claim.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for right foot disability and left foot disability as they are not currently on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and thus denied both claims for service connection for cause of death and burial benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, alcoholic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular thrombus, was not caused by a service-connected disability. The medical evidence does not support a finding that any current condition is related to active service.

The Board found that the overpayment of $460.67 was not validly created due to VA administrative error, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his muscle injuries and scars did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board found that the appellant is not liable for an overpayment of educational assistance benefits in the calculated amount of $329.86 due to errors made by her educational institution.

The Veteran's initial four years of active duty service under his ROTC scholarship is not considered creditable for purposes of Chapter 33 benefits, and the Board finds no legal basis to grant a higher rate of payment.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the purpose of obtaining additional medical records and ensuring that all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Veteran's spouse, H.O.T.L., is recognized as a dependent spouse for VA monetary benefits, as early as January 2009.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to new and material evidence. The Veteran died from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), which is not a presumptively service-connected condition based on exposure to herbicides or other environmental factors. The VA consulting oncologist's opinion supports that AML was not caused by service, as it manifested more than one year after the Veteran's discharge and there is no evidence of its onset during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for esophageal cancer. The Veteran's esophageal cancer is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service, specifically exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a blood disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his active service. The appeal for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent prior to July 19, 1994, and an effective date prior to July 19, 1994, for a 100 percent evaluation for major depressive disorder is dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.