Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremities varicose veins disability is manifested by recurrent pain, fatigue in the legs, occasional pigmentation, and persistent edema, which warrants a 40 percent combined rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's left carotid body tumor was not related to service or herbicide exposure, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected intercostal myositis is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the numbness and pain in her right breast, which resulted from a mammoplasty performed during service, are related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's polycythemia vera is related to his in-service benzene exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VCAA notice and the need for additional evidence regarding the Appellant's status as a child of the Veteran for VA purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining informed consent documents and arranging for a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of his heart damage.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right great toe disability is a residual of his in-service right great toe fracture and grants service connection for this condition. The issue regarding an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a head injury is remanded.

The Veteran's death was due to nonservice-connected causes, and he is eligible for burial benefits. The appellant has been granted a plot or interment allowance as the Veteran was not buried in a national cemetery.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for service-connected residuals of cataract surgery of the left eye was granted at a 10 percent level, effective from February 11, 2003. The appeal is denied as there is no evidence of blindness in the non-service-connected right eye.

The Veteran timely filed a notice of disagreement (NOD) with the November 2005 rating decision denying service connection for left transfemoral amputation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and his appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his current range of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, and subsequent cerebrovascular accident were likely caused by taking Acitretin/Soriatane prescribed by VA. The decision grants compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emphysema is service connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for an overpayment of $3,000 in education benefits due to the Veteran's financial hardship and undue hardship resulting from repayment.

The Board finds, after resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, that the evidence is at least in a state of relative equipoise on all material elements of the claim. Accordingly, service connection is granted for residuals of left hand injury, manifested by neuroma with loss of sensation in the left middle and ring fingers.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that they warranted a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's laryngitis was restored to a 30 percent rating from December 1, 2010 to September 11, 2012. The issue of an increased rating for squamous cell carcinoma remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for a left eye disability and an increased rating for the right eye disability are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's right-sided neck mass, which was initially believed to be a new carotid sheath tumor, turned out to be a recurrence of his Burkitt's lymphoma. The Board finds that the treatment for this condition met the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 due to it being an emergent condition.