Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that Bell's Palsy did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection for Bell's Palsy was denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed loss of equilibrium/balance is not related to his service or any service-connected disability, and therefore denies the claim.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal of the July 2011 decision assigning a 20 percent evaluation for his service-connected right retropatellar pain syndrome, status-post right knee surgery prior to February 2009. The claim is being remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for brain damage, including as due to asbestos exposure, is denied. The Board finds that there is no competent medical evidence showing a current disability and the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any diagnosed condition is related to military service or in-service exposures.

The Board found that the cause of death, rectal cancer, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and there was no herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluations of his service-connected residuals of a left forearm fracture was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling from May 3, 2004 to prior to September 10, 2009 and in excess of 40 percent disabling beginning September 10, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and secondary compensation for residuals of a splenectomy have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right bundle branch block is not a recognized disability for VA purposes and therefore does not warrant service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's poliomyelitis with residual weakness of the leg and joints pre-existed his military service and was not permanently aggravated by active service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the current level of impairment due to residuals of a pulmonary embolism.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a compensable dental disability and thus, service connection for a dental disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including issuing a statement of the case on the issue of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right radial head fracture have been rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his current symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right elbow disability and whether he is unemployable due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory disability was not manifested during service or for many years thereafter, and is not shown to be related to his service. The gastrointestinal disability claim remains pending as it requires further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chondromalacia was denied in 1989 due to his failure to report for a VA examination. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at October 6, 2008, as this is the date the Veteran filed a new application to reopen his claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if any current right leg disorders are related to military service, including any parachute jump injury in September 1968 and the September 1968 right foot injury noted in the service treatment records. The Veteran's lay statements regarding symptomatology suffered during his military service will also be considered.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective from August 21, 2008 based on his service-connected aortic insufficiency with atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including consideration of new evidence in the electronic claims file. The case will be returned to the Board if further action is required.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for astigmatism and presbyopia is denied as these conditions are not diseases or injuries within the meaning of applicable legislation relating to service connection.