Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's current arthritis of multiple joints is not related to his service or a service-connected disability, and thus denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx, which is a metastasis of primary laryngeal cancer. Given his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam and the presumption of service connection for respiratory cancers associated with herbicide exposure, the cause of death is presumed related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip disorder and whether it is secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for a respiratory disability and granted service connection for pneumoconiosis. The evidence shows that the Veteran was exposed to asbestos during his military service, which is related to his current diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

The Veteran experienced right foot arthritic disability symptomatology in service, continuous since separation, and has a current arthritic right foot disability. The Board finds that there is sufficient evidence to grant service connection for the right foot disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a sinus disorder, which the Board previously denied. The case is being remanded to obtain a new VA medical opinion regarding the likely etiology of his current nasal septal deformity and any current sinus disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected lung cancer, status post right lobectomy, warrants a rating of 100 percent effective October 1, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current acquired eye disorder manifested by loss of night vision, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current lymphatic disorder and therefore, her claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip disability with limitation of extension, flexion, and abduction has been rated at the maximum schedular rating (10%) since June 2, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred during his hospitalization from February 7, 2016, through February 11, 2016 is being remanded due to the need for clarification and additional evidence regarding the timeliness of the submission.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and readjudicating the claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's present disability of the right upper extremity did not manifest during or as a result of active military service.

The Board found that the August 26, 2015, fax was not received by the Board prior to the issuance of the August 27, 2015, decision and thus did not affect the outcome.

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

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected abdominal scars are not disabling and denied his claim for an increased disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PVD of both lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or secondary relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability from service-connected disability was dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to cardiogenic shock, fatal ventricular tachycardia, acute ST elevation and myocardial infarction, and acute respiratory failure. The service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.