Other conditions Board decisions

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

The Veteran's left eye corneal edema and vision loss are found to be the result of an unforeseen event during cataract surgery performed at a VA facility in October 1999, warranting compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability manifested by left side chest pain during service or after, and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current stomach problems, including gastric reflux, gastritis and duodenitis.

The appellant may not be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefit purposes.

The Board found that no new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral fallen arches, which was previously denied in May 1981 due to the Veteran's pes planus existing prior to service.

The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence that it is related to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hiccups and muscular twitching of the eyes, fatigue, joint pain affecting the hands, fingers, wrists, knees and ankles, obesity, diabetes mellitus type II, and headaches have been denied. The claim for service connection for obesity was not granted as there is no evidence that it was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that macular degeneration was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to the Veteran's service-connected eye disabilities. The claim for service connection for macular degeneration was denied.

The Veteran currently suffers from hypersomnia and there is a reasonable basis for attributing such disability to his active military service. The Board finds that the medical evidence of record supports a conclusion that service connection for hypersomnia is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increase rating due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's skin rash disorder claim is reopened due to new evidence. However, the service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability. The skin rash disorder may be presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for post-operative residuals of left middle finger fracture was granted, with a combined evaluation of 20 percent. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to the same condition was also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination to reassess the severity of his OCD.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to February 4, 2003 for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show a factual need for regular aid and attendance before February 4, 2003.

The appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of receiving DIC and death pension benefits due to her remarriage after the age of 57, which occurred prior to January 1, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right vallecula is likely due to herbicide exposure during his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.