Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability. The appellant did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, and her eligibility for Dependent's Educational Assistance (DEA) was denied due to lack of a permanent total service-connected disability at the time of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for adenocarcinoma of the colon, finding that there was no evidence showing it had its onset during active service or was related to any in-service disease or injury. The opinion from a VA gastroenterology specialist concluded that the veteran's colorectal cancer cannot be considered to be related to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lymphoma due to herbicide exposure is denied as there is no current diagnosis of lymphoma and the evidence does not support a finding that she was exposed to an herbicide agent during her active duty in Vietnam.

The Board finds that the veteran's death was caused by a disease presumed to be incurred in service due to his status as a former prisoner of war, and grants service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's service-connected right and left knee chrondromalacia patella are currently rated at 10 percent each, while his GERD is rated at 10 percent. The Board denied all increased evaluation claims as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that cataract of the left eye was not incurred in or related to service and is not proximately due to a service-connected disease or injury. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment of VA compensation benefits for his dependent spouse, finding that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience due to the fault of the debtor (the veteran) in failing to notify VA of his divorce.

The veteran's service does not meet the requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of wartime service and no service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, finding no evidence of an in-service head injury and insufficient medical evidence linking current symptoms to military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted since the May 1990 rating decision does not constitute new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of pulmonary emboli and bilateral DVT of the lower extremity are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected ulcerative colitis, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The veteran withdrew her appeal to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for arthritis of both knees.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer due to exposure to carbon tetrachloride, finding that there was no nexus between the veteran's colon cancer and service. The only probative medical opinion indicated that there was no such link.

The veteran's pleural disease/fibrosis of the lungs is attributable to service, and the Board finds that this condition was incurred in active service.

The veteran's death was ruled as a suicide, but there is no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death. The Board found that the cause of death did not stem from a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a right hip and right leg disorders to include as secondary to service-connected residuals of a fracture of the pelvis and chronic low back strain due to additional development being required.

The Board has determined that the veteran's malaria did not result in any residual disability and therefore does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The case is being remanded for further actions to determine eligibility for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses.

The Board has ordered the RO to attempt to obtain medical records from Dr. Antonio Quismorio and Southern Ilocos Sur District Hospital, as these records are relevant to the issue of service connection for the cause of death. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.