Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing private medical opinions.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the relationship to service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents.

The appellant's annualized countable income exceeds the maximum allowable pension rate for the applicable period, thus she is ineligible to receive non-service-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stomach cancer, including as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, as well as a new opinion from an independent medical professional. The issues of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 and TDIU are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to reimbursement for non-VA hospitalization provided on March 4-6, 2007 at Porter Hospital in Denver, Colorado under the Millennium Health and Benefits Act, � 1725.

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of a stomach disability and thus denied service connection for stomach cramps.

The Veteran's CML was not incurred or aggravated during service, including due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for CML.

The Veteran's actinic keratosis nuchae is currently rated at 10 percent, effective July 1, 2009. The condition affects less than 20% of the scalp and causes scarring alopecia.

The Veteran became permanently and totally disabled on March 3, 2009. As the Appellant reached their 26th birthday before this effective date, they are not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's services at Tampa General Hospital were reimbursed by VA, and the Board finds that VA authorized these services.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence, including an examination that did not consider the Veteran's exposure to chemicals such as JP-4 jet aircraft fuel and asbestos during service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the waiver of overpayment of educational assistance benefits (Post-9/10 GI Bill) in the amount of $6,889.38.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to address the etiology of the Veteran's skin and scalp conditions, which may be related to undiagnosed illnesses or a partially explained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's varicose veins are etiologically related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernias have not manifested such as to warrant a compensable disability rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule, and thus denied her claim for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis and dermatitis (claimed as a skin condition) were denied. The Board also found that the effective date for his service-connected PTSD was not earlier than June 27, 2011.

The Veteran seeks service connection for ischemic cardiomyopathy, status post-traumatic myocardial infarction and ventricular aneurysm resection, including as a result of herbicide exposure. The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's death was caused by aspiration pneumonia and sepsis, with significant contributing conditions being colon carcinoma and pancytopenia. The Board finds that the Veteran's alcohol abuse due to PTSD is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD, and it is also as least as likely as not that his colon cancer was related to his alcohol use.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral hand disability is related to his active service.