Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's residuals of left knee replacement are rated at 30 percent for limitation of motion and pain throughout the period of the claim, with a separate rating of 10 percent for instability from January 4, 2011, through July 24, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left inguinal hernia is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of cold injury to the ears, nose, and lips are rated at 10 percent. The Board found that his symptoms have not warranted a higher rating for any part of the appeal period.

The Veteran died of Alzheimer's disease, with posttraumatic stress disorder listed as an underlying cause. The VA medical opinions concluded that PTSD did not contribute to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's skin cancer was not found to be related to his military service, and the Board denied service connection for a pulmonary condition claimed as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for CTS of both upper extremities and for a higher rating for lumbar strain, as well as his claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance. The Veteran did not have CTS or any other disability that would qualify him for SMC at this time.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's mood disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the 1973 and 1976 rating decisions that denied service connection for a personality disorder and chronic nightmares related to a nervous condition. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of his conditions, not through a presumption or reopening due to new evidence.

The Veteran's residuals of left hamstring tear resulted in a moderately severe muscle injury affecting motion of the knee and hip, tendon damage, and deformity. The Board has granted a 40 percent rating effective February 10, 2012.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his shell fragment wound of the right thigh and metallic foreign body of the right tarsal have been dismissed due to withdrawal requests at a July 2014 hearing.

The Veteran's disability due to exostosis on the dorsum of his left first metatarsal has been manifested by a moderate foot deformity, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a cataract of the left eye and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The Veteran was awarded service connection in 2008, but the Board found no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or event.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a skin disorder related to service and denies his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a compensable dental disability for which service connection may be granted. Therefore, entitlement to service connection for a dental condition is denied.

The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is being remanded due to inadequate notice and additional evidence needs to be considered.

The Veteran's residuals of cancer of the left tonsillar fossa extending to the left base of the tongue with left neck metastasis are found to be as likely as not related to herbicide exposure in service, specifically Agent Orange. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA spine examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected ankylosing spondylitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's previously diagnosed NHL is not causally related to his active service, specifically exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The medical evidence does not support a finding of service connection for NHL.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for alcoholism and its residuals as a matter of law due to the lack of a compensable disability resulting from active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.