Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a left foot shrapnel fragment wound is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurrent shortness of breath was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic respiratory disorder during or after his military service. The claims for right thumb arthritis and initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction were also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right pelvis fracture is currently rated at 10 percent and the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Board has determined that the appellant is recognized as the Veteran's lawful surviving spouse for VA death benefits purposes.

The Board has restored a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability from March 1, 2008 and assigned a 40 percent disability rating effective May 12, 2011. The claim for an extraschedular evaluation is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for memory loss and concentration problems, which he attributes to his military service in the Persian Gulf. The Board is remanding the case due to inadequate examination findings and failure to consider relevant evidence.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ankle and/or right heel disability, to include stress fracture residuals, due to disease or injury from her ACDUTRA service. Similarly, she does not have a current left ankle and/or left heel disability, to include stress fracture residuals, due to disease or injury from her ACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right leg shin splints is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The claim for an increased rating for left wrist fracture residuals is also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's otitis media was a pre-existing condition that did not worsen during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have additional disability manifested by bilateral numbness of the upper extremities attributable to service or a service-connected cervical strain. Service connection for CTS of the bilateral upper extremities based on impairment of the median nerve is granted, but this does not include any additional disability claimed.

The Veteran's service did not qualify him for Post-9/11 GI Bill Program benefits due to the type of service he had, which was IADT and active training periods. He does not have qualifying active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for skin disfigurement of the face and back is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The case must be returned for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion addressing the nature and etiology of any current skin disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, to include cataracts of both eyes, and entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran does not have prostate cancer and the diagnosed prostate disorder, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), was neither present in service nor related to service.

The Board found no stomach disorder was incurred in or aggravated by the Veteran's active duty military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, finding that the current degenerative joint disease of the AC joint is not caused by or aggravated by the service-connected left AC joint degenerative joint disease.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have residuals of mononucleosis that are attributable to active service.

The Veteran's chronic orchialgia, status-post varicocelectomy, has been rated at 10 percent since January 11, 2008. The VA examination conducted in June 2012 did not show significant localized scrotal pain and the condition does not impact his ability to work.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of basic eligibility for VA benefits due to new and material evidence submitted since the May 2005 decision. However, the service department certified that the appellant did not have the requisite service to qualify as a veteran.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to accurately calculate the Veteran's monthly nonservice-connected pension payments, including his Social Security income and Medicare deductions. The case will be returned for this purpose.