Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is denied as there is no basis to award an effective date prior to February 4, 2010 for the grant of entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits.

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

The Veteran's claim for a 50 percent rating for coccidioidomycosis was granted, effective from November 20, 2002 to March 15, 2006.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disability and finds that new evidence submitted since the last final denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The issue is now on remand to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his myocardial infarction was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is granted as it meets the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has granted service connection for cancer of the spine, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service. The claim was reopened due to new and material evidence received since the last denial in April 2006.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous and basal cell carcinoma due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's skin cancer is related to his active service, including sun exposure during his time in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining her VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Education file and any other relevant records. The case will be readjudicated after the additional development.

The Veteran's daughter, A.D.C., is recognized as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 years based on her diagnosis of Down syndrome resulting in moderate mental retardation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer that metastasized to the liver is being remanded due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service at Fort Greely, Alaska. The VA will need to verify any and all outstanding documentation of potential exposure to ionizing radiation with the claims file and refer this matter to the Under Secretary for Health for preparation of a dose estimate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's breast cancer is not service-connected due to herbicide exposure, but must still consider direct service connection. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if her breast cancer is related to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's large t-cell lymphoma is not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's macular degeneration is currently rated at 50 percent, and no higher rating is warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for CVA residuals, which is now granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current meniscal tear and chondromalacia of the left knee are attributable to military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis is currently rated at 100 percent disabling since March 28, 2016. As a result of this rating, the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been rendered moot.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and SSA records, arranging for a VA examination to assess the Veteran's functional effects from his service-connected disabilities, and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of a compensable rating for costochondritis chest pain (also claimed as costochondritis and atypical chest pain condition).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis, an eye disability (claimed as lung damage), and rheumatoid arthritis (claimed as lung damage) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.