Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his current condition and his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The appeal for service connection for a throat disability and/or lung disability, other than due to VA treatment in March 1981 is dismissed. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability as a result of VA medical treatment received in March 1981 is remanded.

The Board denied the appellant's request to extend her delimiting date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits beyond October [redacted], 2005, as there was no legal authority to do so based on the circumstances presented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for AL amyloidosis is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymic disorder, finding that it was aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The decision is based on evidence showing a pre-existing depressive condition exacerbated by limited mobility due to his service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of right ulnar nerve relocation and cubital tunnel syndrome have worsened, necessitating a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for his respiratory disability on an extra-schedular basis and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The case is being referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

The Veteran's hallux valgus, right foot disability is being remanded for a VA examination to assess its current severity and manifestations.

The Veteran's cause of death, pancreatic cancer with liver metastasis, is not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease has been manifested by pain and arthritis with noncompensable painful limitation of motion throughout the relevant period.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support the contention that VA care or treatment proximately caused his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remands regarding obtaining an appropriate specialist's opinion on the etiology of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's joint pain and gynecological problems are not related to her military service, including exposure to environmental toxins while stationed in the Persian Gulf. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial of payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical treatment provided from January 4 to January 6, 2014, at Gulf Coast Medical Center has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted, but the underlying leukemia is not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's hemochromatosis is currently rated at 40 percent prior to January 23, 2013 and at 60 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 7345 or DC 7704.

The Veteran's appendectomy with subsequent laparoscopy and lysis of adhesions resulted in a 30 percent rating after January 12, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is rated at 100% prior to January 17, 2014. The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced on whether the September 2012 symptoms were the initial manifestations of recurrent lymphoma and grants a 100% rating for this period.

The Board denied the appeal as the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left hip strain, finding that it is related to his in-service injury while lifting and pouring heavy concrete.