Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cold injury residuals of the feet are related to her military service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board finds the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has an acquired psychiatric disorder other than substance induced mood disorder. The evidence indicates his alcohol use and abuse began prior to service, and he continued to struggle with it throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma, as due to toxic herbicide exposure, is denied because the evidence does not show that his current condition had its onset during service or within a year after separation, nor is it related to his alleged exposure to Agent Orange and/or benzene.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected valvular insufficiency disability warrants an initial compensable rating of 10 percent, effective January 9, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gouty arthritis of the fingers and hands was denied as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The Board found that the current diagnosis of gouty arthritis developed after his service-connected disabilities, and thus could not be considered secondary to them.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to issues related to the appellant's service records and a request for a Decision Review Officer hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical examination and opinion regarding service connection for an aortic valve disorder. The Veteran's entitlement to this benefit is currently under review.

The Board has determined that the former service member's character of discharge for his period of service ending in November 2008 is a bar to eligibility for VA benefits.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to exposure at U-Tapao RTAFB, which falls under the herbicide agent presumption.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected mitral valve prolapse.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA medical opinion and because additional records are needed. The Veteran's hysterectomy is being reviewed for possible service connection, but her uterine fibroid is not considered service-connected.

The Veteran seeks a waiver of recovery for an overpayment of VA nonservice-connected pension benefits. The Board has remanded the case to clarify the creation of the debt and adjudicate whether the overpayment is valid.

The Veteran's claim regarding the reduction of his bilateral eye disorder rating from 20% to 10% effective July 1, 2011 is dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for restrictive airway disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic cancer of the pancreas, was not found to be related to his military service or a service-connected condition. The Board determined that there is no evidence linking the pancreatic cancer to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a lung disability and gastrointestinal disorder has been granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is related to service, while his lung disability does not have a clear link to service.