Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hip disabilities. The Veteran's vascular disability of the bilateral feet (other than Raynaud's Syndrome) remains service connected.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, which is higher than the initial 10 percent assigned in December 2011. The decision also addressed service connection for diabetes mellitus but did not reach a final determination as it was remanded.

The cause of the Veteran's death was pneumonia with sepsis due to rapidly progressing dementia/Alzheimer's type, which is not considered service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is not causally related to his military service, including exposure to chemicals and benzene. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the pathology report from the Veteran's February 12, 2013 right colectomy and to clarify notes referenced in a September 2015 email. The case is remanded for these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's diagnosed LHON and its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus and herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for the issuance of a Statement of the Case on the issue of entitlement to a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of disability compensation in the amount of $450.00.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the appellant's income and expenses for the years 2010 forward, which is crucial in adjudicating her claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The RO must verify the appellant's address and provide her with a VA Form 21P-0518-1 (Improved Pension Eligibility Verification Report - Surviving Spouse With No Children) to obtain updated information.

The Board found that the Veteran's current throat and lymph nodes cancer were not incurred in service, including as due to Agent Orange exposure. The symptoms of these conditions did not manifest during or within one year after service separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and needs further development.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits is denied as she did not provide sufficient information about her monthly expenses to demonstrate individual need.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and considering extraschedular considerations. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's loss of metatarsal bone of the left great toe is not considered to be caused by VA negligence or fault, and therefore she does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum from the VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's skin disorders are related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The examination should address discrepancies in the Veteran's genetic skin type classification.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for dry eye syndrome.

The Board has determined that the September 2000 decision denying non-service connected death pension benefits was due to clear and unmistakable error, and an effective date of November 1, 1999 is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right leg disability, diagnosed as deep vein thrombosis with residual pain, was not present in service or for years thereafter and is not etiologically related to active military service.

The Board denied both issues: the revision of a January 1995 rating decision for cold weather injuries and the reopening of a claim for service connection for DM type II. The Veteran's new assertions regarding Agent Orange exposure were deemed redundant and did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claims.

The Veteran's appeal of entitlement to service connection for a left eye disability has been dismissed due to the absence of specific error of fact or law.

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