Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder or left foot disorder that manifested in service or within one year thereafter, and concluded that any current conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's medical expenses for treatment at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center from March 19, 2010 to March 23, 2010 are granted as the VAMC did not have a feasible option to transfer him and he was stable by that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder is found to be at least partly caused by his chronic alcohol use, which in turn is the result of his service-connected anxiety disorder that was previously evaluated as depression. Therefore, he is granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and because of conflicting evidence regarding the continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's skin disorder is not shown to have had its clinical onset during service or otherwise be related to service. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion that the hypertension was not caused by diabetes mellitus, a service-connected disability, to be more probative than the Veteran's lay assertions.

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension, including special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound was denied due to excessive income. The Veteran has not provided medical expense reports as requested by VA.

The Board finds that the Veteran's aortic regurgitation is likely due to his service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the July 2012 decision dismissing the Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia and restless leg syndrome was erroneous due to failure to consider relevant case law, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand disability is being granted an increased rating to 10 percent, effective from the date of the April 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is remanded due to a lack of recent medical evidence. The case will be readjudicated after additional development, including an examination.

The Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for fatigue. However, the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that any current disorder manifested by fatigue is related to service.

The Veteran's service connection for stuttering is granted, and his initial rating claim for residuals of fracture of the left 4th toe distal phalanx with scar remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for retroactive payment of dependency benefits for his daughter from August 2004 to January 2006 was denied as the claim was not filed within one year of her 18th birthday.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for his wife was also denied, as no evidence was provided that VA was made aware of his marriage prior to March 5, 2008.

The Board found that an effective date earlier than May 7, 2007 for the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected left heel spur condition is not warranted as there was no factual ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to May 7, 2007.

The Veteran's cognitive disability is not presumed to be related to service exposure, but the VA examiner found no evidence of a direct relationship. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding whether the disability is caused by or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shin splints is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records and evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current lower leg or foot disability. The Veteran's claim will be re-adjudicated after this development.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for further development due to incomplete service records and need for additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hammertoes.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge from service is not dishonorable and therefore, it is not a bar to VA benefits (other than medical treatment).

The appellant's initial application for DEA benefits was received after the delimiting date of March 12, 2006. As her eligibility period ended on that date and she did not file a claim to extend it within one year, her claim is denied.