Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation during service and his left temporal lobe glioma is related to this exposure, granting service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's iliotibial band syndrome with bursitis of the left hip has been rated at 10 percent since February 11, 2008. The Board found that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of HTLV. The claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis B will be remanded as well.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action regarding a separate compensable evaluation for exposure to keratitis due to proptosis and lagophthalmos, as well as an effective date for the award of TDIU. The case will be returned to the Board only if the Veteran appeals the extraschedular rating or the effective date.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to newly submitted expense reports, without a waiver of initial RO consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination by a urologist to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed bladder disorder and its relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's stepdaughter is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits as she did not meet the eligibility criteria based on her age and status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his skin disorder, lower extremity vascular disorders, and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for vision problems or an eye disability was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the eyes or vision problems at any time during the current appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hiatal hernia is being remanded due to the need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between her current condition and her military service.

The Veteran's right foot bunion is currently rated as noncompensable due to its essentially asymptomatic nature and lack of severe symptoms equivalent to amputation or requiring operation with resection of the metatarsal head.,Similarly, the Veteran's left foot hallux valgus/bunion deformity is rated as noncompensable for the same reasons.

The Veteran's son requests burial and plot benefits for his deceased mother, but the appeal is denied as there are no applicable laws or regulations providing such benefits for a nonservice-connected veteran's spouse.

The Board found that the withholding of VA compensation benefits from May [redacted], 2006 to June [redacted], 2006 was not proper due to the Veteran's status as a fugitive felon, but the withholding from May [redacted], 2008 to June [redacted], 2008 was proper.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a dental implant of tooth #8, status-post trauma, is granted as the evidence shows that he sustained a traumatic injury to his tooth during active duty which led to its replacement with an artificial crown.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The case is now remanded for further development regarding his bilateral foot condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for inguinal hernia and thoracic spondylosis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability during or within one year after service, and that any current upper back disability is not causally related to service.

The Veteran's herpes with scarring disability has not affected more than 40 percent of the entire body or exposed areas, and does not require constant or near-constant systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs during the past 12-month period. The current rating of 30% is appropriate.

The Board finds that there is clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing herpes simplex condition prior to the Veteran's active military service. The increase in severity during service was not shown, and thus service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The appeal is being remanded due to a scheduling error for the Travel Board hearing. The appellant and Veteran have been notified of the rescheduled date, but if they do not attend, the case will be returned.

The Board determined that the appellant cannot be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits purposes and denied her claim.