Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran was granted separate 30 percent evaluations for residuals of cold injuries to the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity effective September 30, 2004.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 1, 2005 for the addition of her dependent child's benefits. The claim was initially denied due to incorrect school attendance dates provided by the Veteran, but she submitted corrected information within a reasonable time.

The Board found that the RO's decision to sever service connection for vaginitis was proper due to clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection based on mis-identified pre-service treatment records. The Veteran's condition existed prior to and at entrance into service, but no aggravation beyond normal progression during or as a result of service was found.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic brain disorder during service, and the current aneurysm was not diagnosed within one year post-service. The Veteran's statements regarding continuity of symptoms were deemed insufficient to establish service connection.

The Veteran's current skin disability (actinic keratosis) is not considered to be related to his military service, and the Board finds no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service.

The Veteran's current skin disorder affecting the toenails is at least as likely as not related to active service, and the Board finds that a preponderance of evidence supports direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities have been shown to be essentially asymptomatic, with pain, swelling, and stiffness attributed to nonservice-related conditions. As such, the criteria for a compensable rating are not met.

The Veteran's throat cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange) during service, and the Board finds that it was incurred in service.

The Veteran's left brachial neuritis is likely due to the VA-administered influenza vaccine in October 1998, but the claim fails because there was no fault on the part of VA.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence showing the Veteran has been diagnosed with arthritis of the hands, and thus service connection for bilateral hand arthritis is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death is determined to be related to his military service, specifically a closed head injury sustained during active duty in Korea. As such, the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claim, including obtaining treatment records from VA facilities.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for left lung, rib, and heart disorders with scarring due to VA treatment in December 2003 and May 2004. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine if any current conditions are related to the VA treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a pulmonary disorder and residuals of a fracture of the ribs and sternum, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a pulmonary disorder and concluding that there was insufficient evidence linking any current respiratory condition or rib/sternum injury to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pleurisy and meningitis, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for the awards of service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a neck scar, a left ear scar, and a right ear scar. The evidence did not show current diagnoses or treatment for these conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for pterygium of the right eye is being remanded due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the RO in Portland, Oregon.

The Veteran's squamous carcinoma base of tongue with metastasis to left submental lymph nodes and glioblastoma multiforme of the brain are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claims for service connection are granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The evidence does not show that his disability warrants a higher evaluation.