Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no effective date was assigned as there is no service connection issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current gastrointestinal disability is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including medical examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's pulmonary embolism was caused by any incident in service, including due to Agent Orange exposures or exposure to asbestos. The Veteran's pulmonary embolism is not presumed to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for fungus infection of the feet, and thus the claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disorder in the form of abscess/boils is related to active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his terminal prostate and rectal cancers were not caused by exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board found the reduction of the disability evaluation for status post radical prostatectomy was proper, and denied claims for higher ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance of another person and/or housebound status is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining a VA treatment record dated May 19, 2016.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as she did not meet the criteria for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits due to lack of a valid marriage under Virginia law, despite her assertion that they lived together continuously prior to their formal marriage.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disorder, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine, is as likely as not due to his reported in-service injury from an assault. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need for a new VA opinion regarding the Veteran's cataracts, which may have preexisted service or been aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a service-connected dental disability for which he can be compensated, as his loss of teeth is due to natural progression of periodontal disease and not from trauma or other compensable conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further evidentiary development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess his post-operative residuals of left epididymectomy.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection for a dental disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a qualifying current dental disability for which service connection could be granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. The case will be returned for further review after the hearing.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a diagnosis of spina bifida, but instead has spina bifida occulta. As such, she is not eligible for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1805.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's liver disability and alcohol abuse.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service as a recognized guerrilla in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, he is not eligible for the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.