Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete documentation and failure to provide proper notice regarding alternative forms of evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disability is pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial rating have been denied. The hiatal hernia with history of peptic ulcer disease is currently rated at 10 percent, while the residuals of basal cell carcinoma are not shown to meet any compensable criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back and neck disabilities are not related to his active military service, as there is no evidence of a chronic condition within one year after discharge or continuity of symptoms since service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease is less likely related to his service.

The Veteran's surviving spouse did not provide the necessary evidence within a year of being requested to do so, and thus her claim for additional death pension benefits was deemed abandoned. As a result, she is not entitled to any accrued benefits.

The Veteran's knee disabilities were found to not warrant higher ratings at any point, with the exception of a temporary increase in rating from February 24, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for her service-connected residuals of a fractured left pubic rami is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated private treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for alcoholism was denied as the condition is considered willful misconduct and not incurred in line of duty during service. The other claims were also denied.

The Veteran's quadraparesis status post cervico-cranial fusion was not a reasonably foreseeable consequence of his VA hospitalization and intubation in January 2005, resulting in the grant of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death from squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil was not caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions, including exposure to asbestos or toxic chemicals in service. The appellant's claims for service connection are denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional disability, including rectus diastasis and sexual dysfunction, was not caused by VA medical care. The proximate cause of his disability was deemed to be his own failure to follow properly given medical instructions.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current scoliosis or degenerative joint disease, and there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service. The VA examiner found it less likely than not that the Veteran's current back disorder was related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to clarify if she still desires a hearing for her service connection claims and, if so, the type of hearing requested.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a partial stomach removal, which was previously denied in September 1977.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disorder diagnosed as IgM nephropathy and denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hemochromatosis is causally related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the condition was caused by or aggravated by service.

The Board determined that the appellant does not have qualifying military service for purposes of eligibility for VA pension benefits and therefore denied his claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current disability of the left or right leg, medically defined as that portion of the lower extremity between the ankle and the knee. As a result, the Board denies service connection for bilateral leg disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating and an earlier effective date for service connection of Hairy Cell Leukemia, finding that no informal claim was submitted prior to July 30, 2004.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, including residuals of a retina tear, loss of vision, and in-service eye infections is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.