Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's pelvic obliquity and right hip and pelvic pain are related to his service-connected back and lumbar spine disabilities, but not a separate condition.

The Veteran's bladder disability is not considered to be due to VA care, treatment or services. The Board finds that the Veteran's current bladder condition is not proximately caused by his service-connected erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder was denied in 1998, but new and material evidence was received within one year of the denial. The effective date for this grant is now set to November 5, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from Rhode Island Hospital and reviewing new articles submitted by the appellant. The claim will be readjudicated based on this additional evidence.

The Veteran's left eye disorder was rated at 10 percent prior to August 19, 2008 and at 30 percent from that date. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for any period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for soft tissue sarcoma was denied as there is no evidence of the condition during his military service or within one year after separation, and it cannot be presumed due to exposure to herbicides. The Board found that the Veteran does not have soft tissue sarcoma.

The Board has remanded the case for further claims development, including arranging a VA examination and readjudicating the Veteran's claims. The Veteran is entitled to a new hearing before a currently sitting Board member.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient detail in the VA examination report, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's headaches are related to his service injury.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left hand was not diagnosed until after service, and is not causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sinus disorder and respiratory disorder are related to his service, but due to conflicting medical opinions, it is unclear whether these conditions were aggravated by service. The decision grants both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right elbow and right hand disabilities are not related to his active military service.,Specifically, the VA examiner found no evidence linking the current conditions to any in-service injury or incident.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not demonstrate a current diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of both knees is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for vision loss in his left eye resulting from a VA bleb revision procedure, but the Board finds that informed consent was not properly obtained and additional development is needed to determine if there were any unforeseeable complications.

The Board has remanded the case for a video conference hearing at the RO with a Veterans Law Judge of the Board sitting in Washington D.C. The appellant and her representative will have an opportunity to prepare for the hearing.

The Veteran's service connection claim for lateral epicondylitis of the left elbow has been denied. The issue of service connection for trochanteric bursitis of the left hip remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rib fracture is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current left foot or right heel disorder that is related to his military service, including his service-connected left knee chondromalacia. The VA examinations and treatment records do not support a finding of chronicity of these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to a lack of service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from November 10, 2009 to November 12, 2009 were granted as the treatment was for an emergent condition that posed a serious threat to his health and no VA facility was feasibly available.