Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tongue and throat cancer are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for chondromalacia patella and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, effective from September 13, 2004 to January 19, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous VA examination and the need for an additional opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected calcified granuloma of the right lung base was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence showing compensable impairment of pulmonary function, and thus a noncompensable disability rating remains appropriate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neurologic condition of the left side of his face and for a left ear injury with left ear otitis externa, finding that there was no current diagnosed medical condition associated with these claimed symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility for VA home loan guaranty benefits is denied as he served less than 90 days and was not discharged due to a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the appellant was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to his eighteenth birthday due to physical or mental defects, and thus does not meet the criteria for recognition as a 'helpless child' under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The mandibular fracture was rated as noncompensable, and the left knee PFS was also rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected spondylosis with disc extrusion at L4-5 and L5-S1, as well as sciatica of the left lower extremity, were denied. The VA examinations did not show any additional limitation of motion due to painful motion.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for benign prostate hypertrophy. The case has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the condition began during or was caused by his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a CVA and finds that it is related to carotid dissection, not diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current upper trapezius disorder and that her claimed disability is not related to her service-connected cervical spine disability. As such, she was denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and extent of any right hand/wrist disability found on examination, as well as whether it is at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that such disorder is the result of disease or injury incurred or aggravated during the Veteran's ACDUTRA in the Army National Guard from September 12, 1975 to October 21, 1975. The appellant will be provided a corrective notice letter and an opportunity to provide additional evidence.

The Board finds that an effective date prior to February 28, 2003 for the grant of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The appeal is being remanded due to scheduling conflicts for a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the appeal is remanded due to procedural errors and needs further development regarding who may be recognized as the Veteran's legal surviving spouse for VA purposes. The service connection claim will also need to be readjudicated after resolving this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated treatment records, as well as consideration of an extraschedular rating if indicated.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between any current MND, including ALS, and the Veteran's military service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder, and right eye disorders. The left eye disorder was found not to be incurred in or aggravated by active service.