Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin condition, including actinic keratoses and possible basal cell carcinoma, did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service, to include herbicide exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of cardiopulmonary arrest, including right arm hemiparesis, left leg hemiparesis, and occipital blindness are proximately due to his service-connected hypertension. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as the evidence does not establish that VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or other instance of fault caused his additional right foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left hip disorders are not related to his military service, including any in-service injections. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings for bronchiectasis and a left lobectomy, as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or findings consistent with higher ratings. The cause of death claim remains pending due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lungs' contribution to his death.

The Veteran's right wrist disability, characterized by a complete tear of the lunar triquetral ligament and a surgically removed dorsal ganglion cyst, has been granted service connection with an initial evaluation of 10 percent effective March 6, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at his local RO. The issues of service connection and 1151 compensation are still pending.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the Veteran had additional periods of service and/or service in Vietnam, as he died from causes related to Agent Orange exposure. The appeal is currently on hold until further action can be taken.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his court-appointed guardian, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, entitlement to DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and accrued benefits due to lack of legal merit or entitlement.

The appellant's husband had qualifying service but died before the law allowing this benefit was established, so she does not meet eligibility requirements for payment from the fund.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for loss of vision in his left eye due to equipment malfunction during cataract surgery at a VA facility in October and December 2000. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the cause of the capsular tear.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining consent forms and treatment records related to a June 2003 thalamotomy procedure. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after all necessary actions are taken.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Quincy Medical Group on July 22, 2009 is denied as he was covered under a health-plan contract and thus ineligible for VA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran made an irrevocable election for educational benefits under the Post-9/11-GI Bill program (Chapter 33) in lieu of benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) program (Chapter 30).

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to colon cancer, which was presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied as there was no evidence indicating that the Veteran's primary cause of death (colon cancer) was a type of cancer presumed service-connected in veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the appellant's current arthritis was not present during service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year of service separation, and is not causally related to his active service or any incident therein. As such, the claim for service connection for arthritis was denied.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the service-connected right inguinal hernia, but denied service connection for a nervous condition secondary to the hernia. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for disabilities resulting from exposure to Agent Orange and for adjustment of nonservice-connected pension benefits. The decision found that there was no positive association between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have active malaria or any residual disabilities related to malaria, and therefore, a compensable evaluation for malaria is denied.