Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a right hip disability as secondary to his service-connected left hip condition, finding that there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether the current right hip disability is related to his service-connected left hip disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further medical evaluation regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death was related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic right-sided abdominal pain, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether it manifested during or is otherwise related to the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rates.

The Veteran's service-connected partial loss of the distal phalanx of the left middle finger is remanded for further evaluation and consideration.

The Board found that the Appellant's discharge from service was under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, including a conviction for burglary. As his character of discharge is dishonorable, he cannot receive VA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a stomach condition, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral corneal lattice dystrophy does not meet the criteria for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to lack of a service-connected disability affecting a lower extremity.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of special monthly pension on the basis of the need for regular aid and attendance is being remanded due to procedural issues related to implicit claims and duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a hand disorder and an initial rating in excess of 70% for schizoaffective disorder were denied. The claim for TDIU was granted.

The Veteran's cause of death (thrombocytopenia, bacteremia, and sepsis) was not incurred in service or is otherwise related to service.,Evidence submitted since the July 2012 final denial is essentially cumulative with regard to the basis for the prior denial and does not tend to establish that the Veteran's psychiatric disability was manifested in, or caused by, active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's circulatory problems of the left hand were caused by or permanently worsened as a result of the VA carpal tunnel release surgery on November 26, 2012.

The Veteran's death was caused by pulmonary embolism, hypercoagulable state, and colon cancer. The VA has determined that these conditions are not related to his service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and requests for additional information.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for further development.

The Veteran's chronic cough has been rated at 30 percent since June 12, 2009 and remains at that level. The Board found the evidence did not warrant a higher rating as there was no indication of more than daily inhalational or oral bronchodilator therapy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia as there is no current accurate diagnosis of insomnia and the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for hypertensive vascular disease and cold injury residuals of the upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for VA benefits due to a lack of service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.