Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims of service connection for arthritis and peripheral vascular disease were denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the reduction of pension benefits was proper due to the Veteran's failure to report his spouse's SSA income, resulting in an overpayment. The effective date is from November 1, 2006 to February 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the neck and back is being remanded due to inadequate development. The Board instructed a VA examiner to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his service or service-connected conditions, but did not receive such an opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's head injury was not due to his own willful misconduct, and thus service connection for residuals of head injury is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, resulting in a denial of this appeal.

The Veteran's otitis externa is characterized by occasional itching and irritation, but without evidence of swelling, scaling, serous discharge, or frequent and prolonged treatment. The criteria for a compensable disability rating have not been met.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right elbow, including any impairment to muscle groups V or VI. The claim will be returned to the Board after the examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left leg condition is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that her symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are consistent with persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema without ulceration.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hair lip/cleft palate with a sinus condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting an examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's malar rash is a result of her service-connected lupus, and thus grants the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Spinobulbar Muscular Atrophy (SMA or Kennedy's Disease) did not have its onset during service and is unrelated to any in-service disease, event, or injury. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has decided that the character of the appellant's discharge is a potential issue for VA benefits based on their service from February 2003 to September 2004. The case is being remanded for further review and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 3, 1999 for the grant of service connection for a pulmonary embolism is granted.

The Veteran's current scrotal disability, diagnosed as a benign granular cell tumor of the scrotum, is found to be service-connected due to continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's Crohn's disease with hypertrophic gastritis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for injuries of the face, including a nose fracture and residuals of dental trauma. The Veteran's testimony and medical evidence support these claims as he sustained facial injuries during service.

The Veteran's service-connected malaria has been rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable evaluation is denied. The TDIU rating claim remains incomplete due to pending issues with PTSD and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has found that the Veteran's varicose veins of the right leg had their onset in service and have been documented since then, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that there is no current disability manifested by chronic leukocytosis or night sweats, and thus denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.