Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board found that the appellant's husband did not have qualifying active service for purposes of VA death benefits and denied her claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TMD with bruxism warrants a 10 percent disability rating, as his inter-incisal range of motion is limited to 40 mm due to additional functional loss from soreness and fatigue on repetitive use of the jaw muscles. The decision also notes that any higher evaluation on an extra-schedular basis is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA clinical records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records. A VA medical examination will also be scheduled to determine the current severity of his service-connected left ventricular hypertrophy.

The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent rating for right hip trochanteric bursitis from December 8, 2009 to November 8, 2010 and a rating in excess of 10 percent beginning November 9, 2010.,An initial compensable disability rating was granted for left hip trochanteric bursitis beginning December 8, 2009.

The Veteran's cold injury residuals of the hands and feet are currently rated as 30 percent disabling, with separate ratings for each hand and foot under Diagnostic Code 7122.

The Veteran's service-connected onychomycosis of the toenails does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's skin disorders evaluation criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left hip disability was denied, and service connection for cervical spondylosis was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hematuria, including as due to an undiagnosed illness, is being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by pain and numbness of the right hip and leg that is attributable to his active military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnoses of chronic left and right hamstring muscle strains are related to her military service, granting her claims for service connection.

The Veteran's disability rating for anterior wedging at T-11 and T-12 remains at 20 percent, as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on functional loss or ankylosis.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling each. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's death was due to alcohol abuse, but service connection for the cause of death is not warranted as it is precluded by law.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder, which has been rated as 10 percent disabling since January 2006. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records and a VA examination to assess the current severity of the condition.

The Board has decided the case requires further development due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the appellant's current respiratory disability is related to service exposure. The claim will be remanded for a VA examination and consideration of new private treatment records.

The VA determined that the appellant's receipt of retroactive SSA benefits rendered her countable income excessive for payment of VA death pension benefits effective from November 1, 2005 and terminated her monthly benefits accordingly.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a sleep disorder and fungal infection due to insufficient evidence on which to make a decision. The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection is also being addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's deviated nasal septum was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there were no findings of a deviated septum during her military service and the first finding after service is non-credible. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's urinary condition is not secondary to his PTSD medication, but rather associated with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The claim for secondary service connection was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis and double lung transplant, finding no evidence of a nexus to his military service or presumed herbicide exposure.