Other conditions decisions — 2012

The case is being remanded for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and the need for a new opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's Crohn's disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss as secondary to irritable bowel syndrome (diarrhea due to undiagnosed illness) because there is no medical evidence or opinion suggesting a relationship between the memory loss and the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all, as the issues are related to rating criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected pleural effusion did not cause or contribute substantially to his death from aspiration pneumonia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current residuals of head trauma are due to aggravation during military service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left-sided weakness disorder is related to her active duty for training (ACDUTRA) service in October 1999, and thus grants service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's dysthymic disorder is presumed to have had its clinical onset during her period of active service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the lack of availability of the Veteran's service records, specifically his clinical records from Valley Forge General Hospital. The AMC is instructed to make arrangements to obtain these records and notify the Veteran of the results.

The case is being remanded for further development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities, characterized by hallux valgus with associated hammertoes and bunionectomy, are rated at 20 percent each. The effective date is not specified as the increase in ratings was granted.

The Veteran's spouse is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35 of Title 38 due to the expiration of her eligibility period and failure to apply for an extension.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a closed fracture of the left ring finger are currently rated as noncompensable due to lack of compensable limitation of motion or ankylosis.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current neurological disorder of the right upper extremity is related to his service-connected cervical degenerative disc disease.

The Veteran's appeal for equitable relief is dismissed as the Board does not have jurisdiction to address this issue.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 9, 1989 for the grant of individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral corneal macula due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence was cumulative.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 17, 2006 for his total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability. The appeal is dismissed as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1981 decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on both issues before the Board, and hence they are dismissed.

The Veteran's residuals of compression fractures of the thoracic spine are currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's hidradenitis suppurativa was initially rated noncompensable, but a higher rating of 60 percent is granted as of February 3, 2010. The scar residuals are rated at 30 percent since September 16, 2011.