Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board found that there was no in-country Vietnam service and insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's assertion of exposure to Agent Orange. As such, Crohn's disease is not related to active duty or presumed exposure.

The Veteran's initial rating for residuals of a coccyx fracture was granted as 10 percent disabling from February 19, 1991 to December 28, 2008. After that date, the coccygeal pain associated with his service-connected lumbar spine disability is included in the rating assigned for his degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's amputation of the right ring finger was incurred in service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and a respiratory disorder, both of which were determined to not be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of dental trauma are related to an injury he experienced while on active duty for training (ACDUTRA), and therefore grants service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his left foot gunshot wound. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating remains pending.

The Board finds that the Veteran's neurological disorders of the lower extremities are not related to his service or any aspect thereof, including his service-connected diabetes mellitus. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin rash is not related to service, including exposure to herbicides. The current evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected hallux abducto-valgus of the right foot with bunionectomy residuals is currently rated at 10 percent, and a separate rating for pain caused by a retained surgical wire has been granted.

The Veteran's left hand disability is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current regulations. The condition is characterized by arthritis and pain in the fingers of his left hand.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing an opinion on the impact of his bilateral epiphora on his employment in the railroad industry.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cold injury residuals, hands and two great toes due to new evidence. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed joint and extremity disorder. The TDIU claim will be deferred until after the service connection issue has been adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand and whether his chronic lymphocytic leukemia is related to this exposure.

The Veteran's left thigh injury involving muscle group XIV is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this condition. The claim for TDIU was also granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to decide the claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and unverified exposure to ionizing radiation. The appellant's service treatment records are presumed destroyed, and there is no readily available documentation of a claimed accident during training exercise. Claims for kidney and liver conditions are based on alleged exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's progressive cerebellar degeneration is likely due to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of an extraschedular evaluation. The issue remains about entitlement to a compensable disability rating for service-connected vocal cord dysfunction.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disabilities render him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of an injury to the last three knuckles and fingers of the right hand is being remanded due to incomplete records, including missing active duty service treatment records. The Veteran has not been provided a VA medical examination for his claimed disability.