Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment of $2,468 in pension benefits was granted due to the delay caused by the change in address and the fact that recovery would be against equity and good conscience.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disorder, including obtaining medical records and providing an examination.

The Veteran's skin disability, claimed as basal cell carcinoma, is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board finds that the Veteran's amyloidosis, caused by exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune, was the contributory cause of his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from various VA and private facilities. The Veteran's cause of death claim is not about service connection but rather reopening a previous claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease is likely related to service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's primary progressive aphasia with frontal temporal dementia is granted service connection and he is also entitled to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person.

The Board found that the Veteran's soft tissue sarcoma is not related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have bilateral global pes cavus during the appeal period and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for jungle rot and a bilateral hip disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the May 2014 rating decision which assigned an effective date of April 5, 2013 for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is adjudicated separately.

The Veteran's obstructive uropathy due to ureteral stricture is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest possible rating under the criteria for voiding dysfunction based on urinary retention requiring intermittent or continuous catheterization.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including premature ventricular contractions and valvular heart disease with aortic insufficiency and tricuspid regurgitation, is established as service-connected.,Prior to December 3, 2015, the Veteran was granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for his left ankle scar. From December 3, 2015 onwards, a higher rating than 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability. However, the claim is denied as there is insufficient evidence to support a finding that the Veteran sustained an in-service injury or that his current low back disability is related to such an injury.

The Veteran's hepatic steatosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the claim for service connection must be denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but granted a 10% rating for hypertension. The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation benefits has been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's aplastic anemia is not considered to have been caused by the VA treatment with levomethadyl acetate (LAAM) in January 2002, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right foot disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service right foot injury, and thus service connection for residuals of a right foot injury is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's paralyzed left diaphragm is not etiologically related to any injury, treatment, or aspect of active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.