Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's low back disability has been evaluated at a 40 percent rating since the appeal began. The VA examiner found limited motion of the thoracolumbar spine, but no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected left hip replacement disability is rated at 50 percent effective February 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address new evidence and obtain VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for a waiver of an overpayment in the amount of $26,852.00 has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic dry eye syndrome, bilateral, had its onset in service and grants this claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's congestive heart failure was not incurred during service or manifest within one year from the end of her creditable period of service, and has not been shown to be related in any other way to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting opinions and need for additional medical evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bladder disorder is not service-connected, as there is no evidence of a current disability within one year of separation from active duty and insufficient medical nexus to establish a relationship with service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected bilateral L5 pars intra-articularis defects.

The Veteran's request for waiver of overpayment of compensation benefits in the amount of $12,823.00 was denied as recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and an examination to assess the status of his back disability.

The Board has determined that another remand is required due to incomplete development and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia. The Board found that the appellant did not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on being housebound or needing regular aid and attendance at a higher rate due to her spouse's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for diffuse muscle twitching, impaired cognition, short-term memory impairment, and visual impairment (including photophobia), as neurological signs and/or symptoms of a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for an opinion on whether his pernicious anemia is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification of the current evaluation assigned for the service-connected left eye disability, as there is a lack of clear reasoning in the December 2011 rating decision.

The Veteran's right and left elbow disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on additional limitation of motion due to repetitive use.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mantle cell lymphoma of the left tonsil did not have its onset in service and was not caused or aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected status post fusion of L5-S1 post disc herniation does not meet or approximate the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's child was not granted an extension of his delimiting date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, of the United States Code beyond July 30, 2009 due to lack of evidence showing a suspension of education.