Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral leg condition secondary to his service-connected lower back disability, as this issue has already been granted. The decision also addressed a separate TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the severity of his osteoporosis and which joints are affected. The issues on appeal include seeking increased ratings for osteoporosis of various joints.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for beneficiary travel reimbursement from his temporary address in Florence, Alabama to the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois for a VA Compensation and Pension Examination appointment on May 17, 2010 due to lack of preauthorization.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The claims will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hand disorder is secondary to his service-connected left elbow disorder, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for MS/OPCA was denied as there is no evidence linking the disease to his military service. His TDIU claim was also denied due to the presence of non-service-connected neurological conditions that preclude substantial and gainful employment.

The Board found no evidence of a current skin disability related to in-service sun exposure or presumed Agent Orange exposure, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The evidence does not show that the Veteran's service-connected back disability warrants a higher initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an endocrine system disability, including hyperthyroidism and thyroiditis, has been granted. The initial rating of 10 percent for dyspepsia with helicobacter pylori remains unchanged. A higher initial rating of 30 percent for a right ovarian cyst is assigned effective August 25, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell oropharyngeal cancer, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, has been dismissed because the Veteran died before a decision could be made.

The Board found that the termination of compensation benefits due to fugitive felon status was proper, and granted a waiver for overpayment of $6,664.03.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip tendonitis and right hip arthralgia are not shown to meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA regulations, as their symptoms do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury to both ears was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, as his previous claims were previously denied.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for each of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot calluses, effective from the date of the grant of service connection. The right eye disorder claim is being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of brainstem stroke and also wishes to pursue service connection for these residuals as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus with cerebrovascular disease.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for early menopause has been withdrawn. The issue of service connection for early arthritis remains under consideration.

The Veteran's on-the-job training program was terminated by his employer, and VA education benefits were not awarded for the period from August 1, 2003 through October 28, 2004.

The Board has determined that the effective date for adding V.L., the Veteran's dependent school child over 18 years old, to his award is August 25, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.