Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's symptoms of decreased appetite, decreased sex drive, and bilateral lower extremity pain and stiffness are considered part of an undiagnosed illness. The Veteran's insomnia and fatigue are already contemplated in his service-connected PTSD rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease is not related to his military service, and it did not manifest within one year of service. The Board also found no evidence that the condition was caused or permanently aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II or generalized anxiety disorder with major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's right hand fracture residuals were granted a 10 percent disability rating effective November 8, 2007. The effective date for the award of service connection for ulnar nerve incomplete paralysis was also established as prior to February 29, 2012.

The Veteran died from cardiopulmonary arrest with esophageal cancer as a contributing cause. The claim for service connection for the cause of death and entitlement to burial benefits is being remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board granted an effective date of August 6, 1987 for the grant of service connection and a compensable rating for a residual scar of a gunshot wound of the left elbow.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of brain infection, status-post subarachnoid hemorrhage with clipping right cerebral aneurysm and VP shunt, to include meningitis, ventriculitis, functional blindness, and brain damage are not deemed to be due to VA care or treatment.

The Board found that the Veteran's perforated right eardrum existed prior to service and was not permanently aggravated by his military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic cancer of the bladder and small bowel obstruction, was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's impaired fertility disability had its onset in service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current thoracic spine disability, including the fracture at T11, was not caused by his service-connected left knee disability and denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left lower extremity varicose veins have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's eye disability is not related to active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation. His retained foreign material in his left leg, right forearm scars, and ring finger and leg scars are rated as no more than slight muscle disability.

The Veteran's initial ratings for the service-connected paralyzed right hemidiaphragm have been granted and are set at 30 percent from November 24, 2008 to January 13, 2010. The claim for a skin disorder has also been reopened.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied as he did not meet the statutory requirements.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The appellant's husband did not have service that qualifies him for nonservice-connected death pension benefits, and the claim is denied.

The Board found no competent and credible evidence to support the Veteran's claim that he had an ingrown toenail of his right great toe during service, or that it is otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for osteomyelitis of the left hip with arthritic changes because no new and material evidence was received to show that the Veteran's current disability is related to his service.