Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claimed residuals of cold injury to the hands and feet are not considered to have begun in service or be otherwise related to any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a chronic lung disability due to service or any other event or incident, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in a need for aid and attendance or housebound status, as he was not bedridden or unable to care for himself due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current neurological condition or nerve damage related to the Veteran's service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and therefore the requirements for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to address the validity of the overpayment amount and its calculation, as well as determine if a waiver of the overpayment is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication, including obtaining private treatment records, SSA records, and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any cardiac disability. The Veteran's service connection claim will be reconsidered after full development.

The Veteran's right thumb arthritis, characterized by chronic pain and decreased strength and motion, was found to be manifested primarily by a gap of less than one inch between the thumb pad and the fingers. The disability has been rated as noncompensable prior to February 16, 2011, and at 10 percent from that date through February 9, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected bowel urgency with increased bowel activity was initially rated as noncompensable prior to February 24, 2010, and subsequently granted a 10 percent rating effective from that date. The Board found the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims, including for a left hip strain and right hamstring condition. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The decision is remanded due to insufficient information regarding the appellant's current financial status and a missing Notice of Disagreement (NOD). The case will be readjudicated after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's service did not meet the minimum period of active duty requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits, as he served less than 24 months and was discharged under honorable conditions. Therefore, his claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected right shoulder disability and for obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the rating issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left eye disorders of keratoconus, astigmatism, and myopia are directly incurred in service due to an injury sustained during active duty. The preexisting astigmatism and myopia were aggravated by a superimposed injury during service.

The appellant does not have the requisite qualifying active service for basic eligibility for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and his claim must therefore be denied.

The Board has granted service connection for nasal pterygium of the left eye and assigned a 10 percent disability rating effective May 16, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no evidence showing that the proximate cause of complications arising from surgery to close an enterocutaneous fistula was carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA medical personnel.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected fungus condition of the body and face is being remanded for further examination to determine its current severity, as well as obtaining any outstanding medical records. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected supraventricular arrhythmia and to determine the etiology of his mitral valve prolapse.