Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully consider the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left foot disorder. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claimed urinary bladder stricture and urinary incontinence are not found to be due to VA care, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault. The Board finds that these conditions were reasonably foreseeable events resulting from the Veteran's treatment with radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected spinal stenosis with disc bulging to the left and L2-3 right paracentral protrusion is currently rated at 40 percent, which adequately reflects his disability. He does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine.

The Veteran's service-connected status post total laryngectomy and tracheal resection was granted with a 100% disability rating effective January 9, 2007. The appellant is seeking Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35, but her claim of CUE in the August 2007 rating determination for service connection remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's delusional disorder had its onset during his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peptic ulcer disease is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his duty status during periods when he may have been treated for this condition, and for further development regarding whether he currently suffers from clinically-documented peptic ulcer disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, including ulcerative colitis claimed as the result of herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether his PTSD aggravates his intestinal disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim remains on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding no legal entitlement to compensation for birth defects of his child based on exposure during active duty. The remaining issues were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses is denied as the services were not pre-authorized by VA and he had insurance coverage.

The Veteran's service-connected polymorphous light eruption does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Board has remanded both issues for additional development, including new examinations by a dentist and a scars examiner. The Veteran's claims will be re-adjudicated after the completion of this development.

The Veteran's appeal for a waiver of the recovery of an overpayment of Department of Veterans Affairs improved pension benefits has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal prior to any decision being made.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mood disorder is related to his service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold injuries to the feet, hands, and ears and a stomach condition due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including contacting NARA for information verifying the designation of the Veteran's unit as a semi-regular unit by USAFFE or USFIP.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hernia and bladder disabilities resulting from a radical retro pubic prostatectomy performed in 2004 were denied. The VA examiner found no evidence of a current hernia disability or any direct link between the surgery and the Veteran's current bladder condition.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for bilateral posterior subcapsular cataracts, for purposes of accrued benefits, was denied as his best corrected distant visual acuity in both eyes met the criteria for a noncompensable disability rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability, specifically the limitation of extension, is rated at 50 percent effective December 9, 2011.