Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder did not manifest in service or within one year of service, and is not otherwise related to service. The current condition is considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hip disabilities are not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's presumed herbicide agent exposure or his coronary artery disease caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's right and left elbow epicondylitis have been rated at 40 percent since April 18, 2016. The disability is characterized by flexion limited to 90 degrees for the right elbow and greater than 55 degrees for the left elbow.

The Veteran's severe chest and lung pain and difficulty breathing are not deemed to be due to VA medical treatment, specifically the February 2012 thoracoscopy and lung biopsy. The Board finds that there is no evidence of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or other instance of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent disc herniation, status-post L5-S1 discectomy is rated at 60 percent effective May 9, 2017. The claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's death extinguished his VA disability compensation benefits, and there are no existing benefits to apportion. Therefore, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for Special Monthly Pension (SMP) benefits based on need for Aid and Attendance or Housebound Status due to a lack of evidence regarding her disability status, as the STRs from October 1974 to October 1976 are missing. The cause of death claim is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints and TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that her arthritis is not caused or aggravated by her service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and pharmacy records regarding the use of incontinence pads. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from service was under dishonorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, specifically drug abuse. As a result, his character of discharge is considered a bar to VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to the submission of additional private treatment records and Social Security Administration records, which need to be obtained for further review.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by the loss of use of a procreative organ, to include as residuals of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy status post partial salpingectomy, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's death in January 2011 was not related to a service-connected disability or to service in any other way. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant is seeking reimbursement for burial expenses. The appeal is denied as the maximum amount of funeral expenses under 38 U.S.C. § 2302 has already been awarded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated medical records, particularly regarding his gout condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral eye disorder and a skin disorder. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heart atrioventricular (AV) block, finding that there was no evidence of an injury or acute myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest during his period of inactive duty for training. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise on whether the Veteran's left leg disability is aggravated by his service-connected residuals of a stress fracture of the right tibia. Therefore, service connection for this condition as secondary to the service-connected right leg disability is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is related to his in-service exposure to jet fuel and chemical solvents, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.