Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stroke is not related to his service-connected post-operative perirectal cyst, and thus denied service connection for both residuals of a stroke and a stroke disability. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (residuals of stroke) while others were denied (stroke disability).

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be metastatic colon cancer, which the Board found was caused by exposure to hydrazine during service. The claim for an initial compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is granted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's diagnosed chondromalacia patella of the left knee was not incurred in or aggravated by his service, including as due to a known clinical diagnosis and is not related to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for intestinal parasitism was denied because he failed to report for a VA examination and did not provide additional medical evidence as requested.

The Veteran's current glioblastoma is related to his exposure to TEB during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left eye disability, diagnosed as a pterygium, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain additional relevant evidence, including the education benefits file for his daughter and any internal correspondence between the RO and RPO regarding compliance with required claim processing procedures.

The Board found that the Veteran's period of service from April 1981 to December 1983 was under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, including drug abuse, AWOL, disrespecting an officer, and auto theft. As a result, his character of discharge is considered dishonorable, barring him from VA benefits except for health care.

The Veteran's death was caused by esophageal cancer, which the VA medical opinion concluded is not related to his service or exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a link between the cause of death and service.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for benign fibroid left uterine body was increased to 30 percent from July 1, 2009, to January 5, 2011.,Following the removal of her uterus in a hysterectomy on January 5, 2011, she is now rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7618.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for cause of death.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a closed tibiofibular fracture of the right leg is being remanded due to new symptomatology and updated treatment records are needed.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under the provisions of Chapter 35, Title 38, of the United States Code has been granted. The appellant's claim is being remanded to adjudicate it on the merits.

The Board is remanding the case to allow the appellant to submit a copy of her request to reopen the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, or restate her arguments in a new letter. The case will then be returned to the Board for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as a psychosis, finding that it began and was manifest to a compensable degree within the first year after separation from active service.

The Board has found that the proposal to determine the Veteran as incompetent for VA purposes was in error and has restored his competence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine the full extent of his stroke residuals, including any additional disabilities such as vision impairment, speech problems, pain, bladder and bowel issues, and paralysis.