Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bladder/prostate disorder is not related to his active military service or any service-connected disability, including erectile dysfunction and hypertension. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a supplemental VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran has a sleep disorder, not medically based, separate from his current PTSD. The examiner is asked to address if such a sleep disorder is related to active service or caused by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cataracts are related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an enlarged prostate and a dental condition, which were withdrawn. The claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability was also denied as there is no credible evidence linking any current gastrointestinal disability to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right or left elbow disabilities, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination. The issues of entitlement to an increased rating for mood disorder and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are also being remanded.

The appeal is currently pending and requires further development before a decision can be made on the issues of entitlement to service connection for cause of death, death pension benefits, and accrued benefits.

The Board finds that the Veteran has received dependency benefits for his children attending school during the exact periods they applied for them, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, determining the etiology of his liver disease and chronic intermittent musculoskeletal pains and arthritis in feet, legs, arms, and neck, and affording him a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected coccidioidomycosis.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date for the award of additional compensation for dependent children, finding that VA was not notified of their existence prior to October 16, 2009.

The Board has granted recognition of K.J.R. as the Veteran's dependent child for purposes of VA benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip disability manifested with painful motion, range of motion limited to 50 degrees, limitation of flexion of the thigh to greater than 45 degrees, limitation of extension of the thigh to greater than 5 degrees, limitation of adduction greater than 10 degrees, limitation of rotation to 15 degrees without evidence of ankylosis, flail hip joint, or impairment of femur. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10% for left hip arthritis are not met.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral shin disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's initial rating for atrial fibrillation secondary to service-connected hypertension is denied as the evidence does not support a finding of more than four episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia documented by ECG or Holter monitor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for congestive heart failure and for the cause of his death. The decision found that there was no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's congestive heart failure began during or was caused by his military service, including as due to herbicide exposure. Additionally, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have any service-connected disabilities at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for deviated nasal septum is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed gallbladder and large intestine disorders. The examination should consider the August 2013 article 'Toxic Vets - The Poisonous Legacy of Ft. McClellan' and the Veteran's military occupational specialty (Chemical Operations Specialist).

The Board denied the appellant's claim of recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits due to a lack of continuous cohabitation from the date of marriage until his death, and because she did not live with him at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability and that he did not have any pending claims for benefits at the time of his death. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is remanded to determine if there is evidence linking the cancer to Agent Orange exposure or military service.

The Board found that $17,860.33 of the overpayment was valid and should be reimbursed to the appellant, while the remaining amount ($4,333.67) was not valid. The waiver of repayment for the valid debt is denied.