Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his arthritis conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. The AOJ should also consider whether a separate compensable rating for a painful scar associated with such disability is warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran exhibited a chronic disability manifested by fatigue, fever, and chills during service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's arterial occlusive disease in the left lower extremity results in severe claudication necessitating surgical correction, warranting a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's anemia was rated as 10 percent disabling beginning April 14, 2006. She previously had a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disability, finding that there was no evidence to support his claim on the merits.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to assess the impact of the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder on his ability to work, given his history of unemployment and psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the appellant's husband's testimony regarding exposure to ionizing radiation and ingestion of Trinitite.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility to receive a transfer of educational benefits under Chapter 33, United States Code because there was no proof that the Veteran had applied for the Transfer of Entitlement (TOE) program through the TEB website. The service department is not shown to have approved a request from the Veteran for a transfer of educational benefits to the appellant.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed skin condition, including whether it is related to service or an undiagnosed illness.

The Veteran's bilateral chronic otitis media with perforated and scarred eardrums is found to have been incurred during active duty service.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim for basic eligibility for VA death benefits, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration on an extraschedular basis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The claim will be adjudicated again after the necessary steps are taken.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 11, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his SSA records and for another VA examination. The TDIU issue will also be addressed.

The Board denied a request for an effective date earlier than July 1, 2008, for the award of dependency benefits for the Veteran's spouse. The decision stated that the earliest effective date was July 1, 2008, following VA's receipt of proper marriage information on June 30, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's recurrent UTIs and her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for herpes simplex encephalitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's narcolepsy has been rated at 20 percent, but he contends that he is entitled to a higher rating. The Board found the evidence consistent with an 80 percent rating and granted this rating.

The Veteran's chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is rated at a 40 percent disability rating, effective from April 5, 2007.

The Veteran is seeking an increase in the rate of Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits, which are based on his active duty service after September 10, 2001. The RO previously determined that his creditable active duty service totaled 354 days, warranting a 50 percent rate of payment. However, the Veteran claims he has additional creditable service from March to September 2009 which was not considered by VA.