Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination and the provision of his complete VA treatment records from February 2013 to present. The issues on appeal are entitlement to service connection for residuals of cold injury of the left and right feet and entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for consideration of TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to February 8, 2002. The Veteran's unemployment history and service-connected disabilities are to be considered.

The appellant is not eligible for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund as her deceased spouse did not meet eligibility criteria, and she cannot claim on behalf of his surviving spouse.

The Board found that there was no demonstration of 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides or complete obstruction on one side, which is required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 6502. The Veteran's service-connected healed fracture of the nasal bone does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and an opinion regarding the cause of his left eye cancer. The issues include service connection for left eye cancer, as well as reopening claims for PTSD, depression/bipolar disorder, and anxiety.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including right and left patellofemoral syndrome and anemia, were granted ratings. The rating for urinary tract infection, cystitis, and urethral syndrome was increased to 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development, including obtaining clarification from the VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's chronic prostatitis or BPH is related to his in-service chronic prostatitis.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The VA medical treatment in April 2002 did not result in any new or additional bladder disability, and the Veteran's current symptoms are better explained by his prostate cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for myeloproliferative disorder, finding insufficient evidence to link the condition to his service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's duodenal ulcer was rated at 10 percent prior to December 3, 2012 and increased to 20 percent from that date. The right foot disorder claim was not granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for disability of the upper and lower extremities and skin rash due to herbicide exposure, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board found that the Veteran's right tonsil squamous cell carcinoma was not incurred in or aggravated by service, may not be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a 'cracked skull' with right zygoma trauma has been granted, but the rating assigned is noncompensable.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder with secondary alcohol and drug abuse is granted as service connection is established.

The Board denied increased ratings for chondromalacia of the right patella, prostatitis, and history of otitis media and otitis externa.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her rotary subluxation of the left (major) sternoclavicular joints was denied as her disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic inflammatory process of the chest (diagnosed as pulmonary fibrosis in service) was rated at 10 percent effective June 3, 2013. Prior to this date, his disability was not considered disabling enough for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and due process reasons, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. W. Corsini and a VA examination report.