Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and higher initial disability ratings for his service-connected residuals of leech bites, finding that no evidence supports an earlier date than January 31, 1991.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic myeloid leukemia, claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the establishment of his spouse as a dependent for compensation purposes was denied. The earliest known date VA became aware of G.C.J. as the Veteran's spouse was February 9, 2001.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a left hand disability due to disease or injury incurred in service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purpose of obtaining one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has determined that C.T. and J.T., the appellant's biological children, are not considered stepchildren of the Veteran for VA purposes due to a lack of evidence showing they were members of his household at the time of his death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on the issues of service connection for disabilities manifested by dizziness and right hand numbness before a decision was made.

The Board finds that the indebtedness to VA in the amount of $4,696.20 is valid due to the Veteran's incarceration and retroactive reduction of his disability benefits.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 and bilateral hip degenerative joint disease are proximately due to, the result of, or chronically aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a deviated nasal septum and finds that new and material evidence has been received. The examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether the current deviated nasal septum is related to his in-service injury, which may have aggravated his pre-existing condition.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a reopening of the claim and that the Veteran likely had exposure to liver flukes in Vietnam which contributed to his cholangiocarcinoma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinion and development. The issue remains whether his current bilateral great toe arthritis is related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification of whether the Veteran's oral lichen planus and oral cancer are related to his service-connected PTSD with depression, as well as whether they were aggravated by it.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the appellant does not meet the income requirements for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran is entitled to SMC by reason of being housebound due to multiple service-connected disabilities, but not for the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a recognized period of captivity as a Prisoner of War (POW) and thus, his claim for POW status is denied. The cause of death was found to be unrelated to service or service-connected conditions. The appellant does not meet the requirements for nonservice-connected death pension benefits. There is no legal entitlement to additional allowance based on aid and attendance or being housebound. Service connection for COPD and malaria are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral varicose veins do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there is no evidence of persistent edema with or without stasis pigmentation or eczema.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities, specifically femoral acetabular (CAM) impingement, are at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected conditions. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these disabilities are granted.

The Veteran's jaw disorder, characterized by jaw pain and teeth grinding, is found to have begun during service and is related to service. Service connection for this condition is granted.