Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected skin disorder affecting his thighs is causing or aggravating a sleep disorder, and thus grants service connection for the sleep disorder on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck condition, including as secondary to his service-connected left shoulder disability, was denied. The Board found no evidence linking the current neck condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left hand disability was granted, with an initial noncompensable rating now increased to 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his right foot disability is characterized by mild symptoms, and the issues of lumbar spine disorder and left foot disorder were not addressed due to lack of service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection claims for neck injury, back injury, stomach disorder, and bilateral foot disorder. The evidence received since the June 2004 rating decisions is not new and material.

The Board determined that the cause of the Veteran's death, lymphoma, was not related to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of visual impairment in his right eye. However, it is unclear whether this condition was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left eye disorder (herpetic keratitis with corneal nebula). The evidence does not conclusively establish a direct link between the two.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lymphedema of the lower extremities is not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip degenerative disease and dysthymic disorder have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent each. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye disorder and lung disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence. Service connection was not granted for the other issues due to lack of supporting medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disability compensation for K.W. was awarded an apportionment, but the case is being remanded due to a lack of divorce documentation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for rectal carcinoma, including as due to herbicide exposure, has been dismissed because the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board found that the Veteran's reported head trauma residuals are not supported by medical evidence and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the Veteran's priapism is related to his service-connected dysthymic disorder and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse is not entitled to an effective date prior to February 10, 2006 for additional compensation due to a lack of evidence of dependency within one year of notification of his marriage.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examination and development of his claims file. The issue remains whether he should receive a higher rating for his service-connected post-thoracotomy damage to the left long thoracic nerve.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied. The left thigh muscle hernia, left lower extremity cold injury residuals, and right lower extremity cold injury residuals are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each. The contusion of the right third and fifth fingers is non-compensably (zero percent) disabled.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left hip disability, including bursitis and iliotibial band syndrome, was not initially manifested during service or within one year of service. The VA examinations did not establish a link between his in-service knee injury and his current hip disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to substantiate the Veteran's claim for service connection of narcolepsy. The case is being remanded to obtain relevant records and schedule a VA examination.