Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran seeks additional beneficiary travel payments for trips to a VA-authorized health care facility from March 2011 to July 2011. The VAMC denied the claim, and the case is being remanded due to incomplete records and lack of specific denial rationale.

The Veteran's right elbow disability, including arthritis, has been rated at 10 percent since September 2005. The evidence does not show that his range of motion is limited to the extent required for a higher evaluation prior to May 31, 2006.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine whether the appellant was 'insane' as defined by VA regulations during his period of active service. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a vascular specialist examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's Chiari malformation is a congenital defect and was not aggravated during active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an injury to the left mandible, including a dental disability and chronic skin rash. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence showing that his schizoaffective disorder, depressive type, is related to military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, carpal tunnel syndromes of each wrist, a left ankle disability, and hemorrhoids have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and seeking VA examinations to address the Veteran's lung disorder and urological disability.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current head injury residuals, as there are conflicting diagnoses and treatment records. The Veteran's service record includes a documented head injury during active duty.

The Veteran's peripheral vascular disease in the right lower extremity is rated at 20 percent, and his service connection for this condition remains granted. The issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and coronary artery disease are addressed separately.

The Board found that the reduction from a 10 percent rating to a 0 percent rating for left hand burn residuals was proper based on evidence showing sustained improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's pension benefits were terminated due to incarceration for greater than 60 days for a felony. The RO reinstated the benefits as of his release from prison on December 31, 2005. The claim for an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's debt was validly created due to overpayment of VA compensation benefits during his incarceration. The Committee on Overpayments found no fraud, misrepresentation, or bad faith in the creation of the overpayment and granted a waiver of recovery of the debt.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge in August 1976 was a bar to receiving VA compensation benefits for his entire period of active duty from October 1972 to August 1976.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tendonitis of the left elbow is being remanded due to a lack of review of his claims folder and the need for a more contemporaneous examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a testicular disability and granted it, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lupus, an autoimmune syndrome, liver damage, and vitiligo due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining confirmation of the service member's exposure to chemicals and reviewing his claims file to determine if any pulmonary or cardiac conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's missing right great toenail is productive of pain and warrants a 10 percent initial evaluation.