Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral torn retinas with blindness due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The case is remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the reduction in DIC benefits for D.D., one of the Veteran's children, was proper due to an administrative error and followed the required procedures.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back condition is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current bronchiectasis was not incurred or aggravated during active service, and there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and his military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for bronchiectasis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of dental trauma due to injury in service is denied as there is no credible evidence showing any such condition existed during or immediately after his military service.

The Board granted service connection for myoclonus of the right hand and foot, assigning a 10 percent rating effective November 15, 2011. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not rated compensably.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, characterized by osteochondritis dissecans and post-traumatic arthritis, is rated at 40 percent effective March 8, 2012. The claim for TDIU on an extra-schedular basis was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye disability, including macular degeneration, was not caused by or aggravated by his military service, specifically due to sunlight exposure. The VA examiner provided multiple opinions concluding that there is insufficient evidence to support a link between the Veteran's in-service sun exposure and his current condition.

The Veteran's skin disorders, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, were not incurred during active service or as a result of any incident thereof. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which he can be granted service connection.

The Veteran's bowel incontinence is not manifested by complete loss of sphincter control, and the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's symptoms of muscle fatigue, shakes, twitching, and tremors are not service-connected as they are attributed to his diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Board found that the Veteran's congenital esotropia, which was surgically corrected during service, did not result in a current vision/eye disability and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disorders are not shown to be etiologically related to service or any incident therein, including his reported incorrect refractive lenses prescribed during service. The issue of whether his cataracts and conjunctival nevus with cysts are secondary to his service-connected bronchitis was also denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for an upper respiratory disorder, which he claims began during his military service. The Board has ordered additional development to determine the etiology of the condition and whether it was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for residuals of colon rectal cancer, as there is no credible or probative evidence linking the condition to active duty.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for additional disabilities resulting from medical treatment in April to May 2000, including shortness of breath, muscle loss of the upper extremities, a ventral hernia, and necessity to limit activities. The Veteran also seeks service connection for residuals of a staphylococcus infection.

The VA has reduced the DIC benefits payable to the Veteran's daughter, C.T.B., from $488 to $350.50 due to an administrative error. The appellant disagrees with this reduction and has filed a notice of disagreement.

The Board found that the Veteran's esophageal cancer and respiratory failure were not related to his military service, thus denying dependency and indemnity compensation for the cause of death. The appeal for nonservice-connected death pension was also denied as the appellant's income exceeded the statutory maximum rate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left total hip replacement is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to inadequate compliance with the January 2013 Board remand instructions. The case must be returned for another VA examination by a vascular specialist.