Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected VA pension was granted in April 2015, and the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on being housebound was rendered moot by a previous Board decision that granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board finds that the Veteran's prostate disorder is not service-connected, as there is no direct evidence linking it to his military service. The VA examiner's opinion was considered most persuasive in this regard.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's service in the Panama Canal Zone, including his September 1977 service. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to severe electrolyte disturbance, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and malignant lymphoma, which she claims were caused by herbicide agent exposure during his service.

The Board found that the appellant's death pension benefits were properly terminated due to excessive countable income, and denied her request for resumption of these benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic prostatitis is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease has not been productive of pronounced impairment resulting in marked malnutrition, anemia, and general debility or with serious complications such as liver abscess. Therefore, the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent have not been met.

The Veteran is seeking an effective date earlier than February 26, 2010 for the grant of service connection for dysthymia with somatic features. The Board finds that no document prior to February 26, 2010 can be construed as a claim for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral flatfoot disability warrants a 50% rating, reflecting pronounced symptoms including extreme tenderness of plantar surfaces of both feet.

The Veteran's son is not a qualifying child for VA purposes and therefore, the appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being associated with the record and potential worsening of symptoms. A VA examination is needed to assess the current nature and severity of the left varicocele.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's loss of sense of smell and taste did not have its onset in service, is not related to exposure to ionizing radiation, and is not otherwise related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's current diagnosed emphysema is not related to his active military service and the Board finds that he did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's left eye amblyopia existed prior to service and did not worsen during service, thus denying service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show audiometric findings meeting the criteria for a grant of service connection for hearing loss in accordance with VA regulations. For his malformed right rib, status post fracture disability, the Veteran received a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5321 (Group XXI. Muscles of respiration: Thoracic muscle group). The Board found that this level of disability is consistent with moderate symptoms.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another or being permanently housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability, including his interstitial lung disease which he claimed was due to asbestos exposure during service. The evidence did not support a finding that his death was related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of the upper or lower extremities related to cold weather exposure during service. The VA examiner opined that the degenerative changes found in both hands were more likely due to the Veteran's age and his post-service occupation as a cattle farmer.