Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia contributed to his death from primary dementia. The claim will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's additional disability, chronic right groin pain and neuroma, was not caused by VA's carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault in providing the surgical treatment. The event was foreseeable as it is a known risk associated with hernia repair.

The Veteran's obstructive airway disease was rated at 30 percent prior to December 11, 2008, and increased to 60 percent since then. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran argues that the February 1953 rating decision denying service connection for a right eye disorder was based on inadequate information, examinations, and opinions. The Board finds this claim to be mixed as it addresses both CUE and reopening of the claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for surviving spouse status due to her separation from the Veteran, which was not due to his misconduct without fault of the appellant.

The Veteran does not have cubital tunnel syndrome or femoral artery hardening that is related to his military service. The Board finds no evidence of these conditions during service, and the medical opinions are against a finding of current disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's current skin disorder of the face is an acneform consistent with chloracne, which he contends is due to herbicide exposure during service. The evidence supports this diagnosis and establishes presumptive service connection based on his Vietnam-era exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for sociopathic personality disorder with passive aggressive trends, previously characterized as a nervous condition and a brain disorder. As such, the claim is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increase in his rating for prostatitis was remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's non-service-connected pension payments were terminated as of February 1, 2005 due to his status as a fugitive felon. The appeal is denied.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for his service-connected distorted left great toenail, finding that there was no evidence of any functional impairment beyond subjective complaints.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death due to exposure to ionizing radiation, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma to his active service or any radiation exposure.

The Veteran's stomach pains, including a surgically excised gastric leiomyoma, were not incurred in or related to service. The Board finds that the Veteran's right leg pain is not related to his service-connected varicose veins.

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability is productive of pain, fatigue, and difficulty in lifting heavy objects. The Board found that the limitation of motion associated with the entire movement of the thoracolumbar spine was solely related to a nonservice-connected low back condition.

The Veteran's skin disability characterized as macular amyloid is not related to active service.,The Veteran does not have degenerative bone loss in the mouth due to a condition incurred or aggravated during active service.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues, including increased ratings for his elbows and ankles, as well as service connection for Graves' disease. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and address the exposure basis for Graves' disease.

The Veteran's lung disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to exposure to benzene. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a connection between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has granted a higher initial 10 percent rating for the Veteran's otitis media, effective January 6, 1994.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for her service-connected hydronephrosis with left upper heminephrectomy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination.