Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current eye conditions are related to his military service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's recurrent epistaxis has been granted a 10 percent disability rating for the entire initial rating period on appeal, effective from May 13, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bladder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have bladder cancer and thus could not be granted presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for functional bowel syndrome (now claimed as Crohn's disease). The Board also finds that there is at least an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current Crohn's disease is related to his in-service symptoms, thus granting service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA non-service connected death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted since the March 1995 statement of the case is not new and material, thus denying the application to reopen the previously denied claim for death benefits.

The Veteran's cause of death, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), is not considered to be related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's AML was caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's remains were transported to the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Anatomical Association for donation, and the appellant seeks reimbursement. However, VA regulations do not allow for reimbursement of transportation costs when the final resting place is a medical school.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a higher rating for exostosis fifth right toe, operated is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse is entitled to an increased apportionment of his VA benefits, with a monthly amount of $2,500 effective April 1, 2016. The decision also confirms her entitlement to receive the remaining portion of his benefits (90%) while he remains incarcerated.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for rectus diastasis, finding that it is not related to his active service or as secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran died in September 2015. The appellant is his surviving spouse and has children who are not under the age of 18. She does not meet the criteria for an increased rate of DIC as she does not have a service-connected disability rated totally disabling for at least eight years immediately preceding her husband's death, nor does she qualify based on other provisions such as need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The appellant died during the appeal process, and her claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death has been dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a back injury/spinal disorder is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional lay statements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hip fractures and pelvic fracture with Trendelenburg gait have been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,For the period from December 8, 2006 to February 11, 2007, the Veteran's pelvic fracture and Trendelenburg gait met the criteria for a 40 percent disability rating. However, this period is not in dispute.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left eye condition, including cancerous corneal lesion and ectropion, is not etiologically related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of an in-service event or injury resulting in his current disability.

The Veteran's service-connected Achilles tendonitis of the right foot and Achilles tendonitis with hallux rigidus of the left foot are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5284. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including a medical opinion regarding whether any acquired pathology is attributable to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed respiratory disorder, pleurisy, is not related to his military service and thus denied his claim for service connection.