Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected hammertoes of the left and right little toes do not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development due to newly submitted evidence by the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral athlete's foot is currently rated as noncompensable due to the current severity of his symptoms not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Rating Schedule.

The Board found that the Veteran's right inguinal hernia has not warranted a compensable rating during the period on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left foot disability, other than a skin/fungal condition, was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected residuals of retained shrapnel wound to the lower back.

The Veteran's death in July 1999 from chronic lymphocytic leukemia is being reviewed for service connection. The appellant also seeks eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). Both issues are currently remanded due to incomplete information and need further development.

The Board has determined that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis, is related to his service-connected left shoulder disability. As such, the benefit of doubt rule applies, and the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability is granted.

The Board granted service connection for esophageal stricture as secondary to pain medications used to treat his service-connected disabilities, and assigned a 10% evaluation for the shrapnel wound scar of the left parietal region.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for chronic herpes simplex and a dental disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an addendum opinion from the July 2012 examiner regarding the Veteran's contentions about in-service onset and sexual assault.

The Board found that the Veteran's right eye post-surgical residuals, to include visual loss, are not proximately due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis, L4-L5 with disc protrusion, meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating based on severe IVDS.,The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis, T11-T12 with protrusion, meets the criteria for a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran does not currently have liver cancer and has not had it during the pendency of this claim, meaning at any time since filing this claim. Therefore, his claim for service connection for liver cancer is denied.

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

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration disability benefits documents.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the January 2008 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for left lower extremity and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, finding that the Veteran's cold injury during service is directly related to his current disabilities. The claim for a left upper extremity disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's service did not include wartime service, and therefore the appellant is not eligible for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of her service-connected left foot disability, and for adjudication of whether other foot problems are related to this condition. Additionally, she must be provided with notice regarding her claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disability and Alzheimer's disease have been denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to her service-connected major depressive disorder with psychotic features.,There was no evidence of current disabilities for which service connection could be granted, and the Veteran did not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU prior to March 1, 2011.