Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appointment at DW Auto to fix his wheelchair did not warrant roundtrip reimbursement as it was not authorized by VA before the travel began and no special mode of transportation was required.

The Veteran's service-connected neuralgia of the superficial peroneal nerve, left is currently rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has vacated the December 2007 decision denying a rating in excess of 30 percent for right herniorrhaphy and granted an initial evaluation of 30 percent. The ilio-inguinal nerve entrapment issue is addressed separately.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma is granted, as the evidence supports a finding of exposure to herbicides during his active duty in Korea and presumptive service connection applies.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current temporomandibular joint disorder and myofascial pain syndrome are due to in-service trauma, resulting in a grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected left hand disability and whether separate ratings are warranted for each finger involved.

The Board has granted service connection for a bladder disability, specifically bladder outlet obstruction. The Veteran's current condition is found to be secondary to benign prostate hypertrophy resulting from trauma during military service in 1968.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral artery disease (PAD) of the left leg is denied as there is no current diagnosis of PAD in his medical records.

The Veteran died from head and neck cancer. The Board found that his service-connected varicose veins did not cause or contribute to his death, as the surgery was not done for reasons unrelated to his varicose veins.

The Veteran's dermatophytosis is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board denied his claim for an increased evaluation as there was no evidence showing more than 40% of his body or exposed areas affected by the condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's Bell's palsy did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, as it was currently evaluated at 10 percent. The disability is rated under Diagnostic Code 8207, which pertains to paralysis of the seventh (facial) cranial nerve.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date than March 16, 2011 for the award of additional compensation benefits for a dependent spouse and child. The Board finds that the correct effective date is April 1, 2011 as it is the earliest possible date based on the dates provided in the regulations.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding exposure to chemicals or drugs during service and the cause of death claim. The non-service-connected burial benefits claim is also being deferred until the cause of death claim is resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a clarification of the impact of his pain medication on employment and an assessment of the extent of any instability in his left hip.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date beyond August 8, 2010, was denied as there is no evidence showing a disability prevented him from initiating or completing his education program.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service with the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, under USAFFE command, does not establish eligibility for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran died due to traumatic injuries from a motor vehicle accident. The appellant is not entitled to death pension benefits, accrued benefits, or service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's esophageal stricture, claimed as oral and pharyngeal dysphagia, is related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for Lyme disease and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the Veteran's symptoms in service and her current diagnosis.