Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left maxillary sinus, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's exposure in Vietnam. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's nerve damage of the bilateral legs is not a separate disability from his service-connected cervical spine disability, and thus he cannot be granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not timely file a substantive appeal regarding her claim for VA death pension benefits, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the appellant's heart murmur and mitral valve regurgitation were present prior to service, did not increase in severity during service, and are unrelated to service. Therefore, service connection for cardiovascular disease was denied.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection for chronic pancreatitis and internal varices, both claimed as secondary to service-connected hypertension, need further clarification. The case is being remanded to obtain a supplemental medical opinion from an appropriate physician.

The Board found that the Veteran's complaints of numbness in his right and left lower extremities have not been associated with any underlying diagnoses and are not otherwise accompanied by objective indications of qualifying chronic disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma did not begin during his active duty service and is not presumed to have been caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The evidence does not support a finding of continuous symptomatology prior to separation from service, nor does it establish a direct link between the cancer and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected avascular necrosis of the right hip, post-total hip arthroplasty, is rated at 30 percent since May 1, 2009. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin condition was not caused or aggravated by his active service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disorder is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's lower back disability is presumed to be service-connected due to its chronicity since service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left index finger disability is denied as the maximum schedular rating of 20% is already in effect.

The Board found that the appellant does not qualify as a surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits purposes due to lack of continuous cohabitation and invalid marriage under West Virginia law.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims as there was no timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) filed with respect to the November 2007 rating decisions granting individual unemployablity and basic eligibility for dependents' educational assistance.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating and temporary total evaluation for convalescence following left inguinal hernia repair surgery on April 3, 2008 was denied. The Board found that the surgery did not necessitate at least one month of convalescence or severe postoperative residuals.

The Veteran seeks compensation for residuals of an infection to the right forearm under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to improper care by VA during March 2006, which resulted in hospitalization and MRSA infection. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The case is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the appellant's local VA office. The appeal will be processed after the hearing.

The case is being remanded for additional development of the Veteran's post-service treatment records, particularly from American Lake VA Medical Center. The specially adapted housing issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's lower jaw disability may be related to service, but the stomach and colon disability is secondary to the lower jaw disability. Further development is needed to determine these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development regarding whether the appellant is a proper claimant and whether the Veteran had a surviving spouse at the time of his death.