Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected status post residuals of a retropubic radical prostatectomy for adenocarcinoma of prostate is currently rated at 20 percent, effective from May 13, 2010. Prior to this date, the Veteran was not entitled to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right upper extremity disability. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for hiatal hernia and memory problems, to include as due to undiagnosed illness or a qualifying chronic disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right thumb disability, as evidence suggests an increase in its severity. The Veteran should also provide releases for VA to obtain any private treatment records related to this condition.

The Veteran's ACL tear of the left knee is related to his military service and has been confirmed by recent MRI. The Board grants service connection for residuals of a left knee injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 1, 2010, for the addition of his spouse B.R. as a dependent based on insufficient evidence received prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's thoracic outlet syndrome is related to service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for Boutonniere's deformity of the right middle finger, reopening of tinea cruris and insomnia service connection claims were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not warrant a compensable evaluation for the current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of two front teeth is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether his injury was caused by in-service trauma or disease.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma was not shown to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure, and thus the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claims.

The VA treatment in May 2010 for pneumonia and confusion did not cause the Veteran's death, which was attributed to natural causes.

The Veteran's appeal for initial increased ratings for chronic epicondylitis of the right and left elbows has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot condition manifested by numbness and tingling, as well as his low back disability. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of a right ankle sprain remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if he has any chronic residuals of his West Nile virus infection and whether these are related to service.

The Veteran's right third metatarsal disability has not resulted in any of the conditions listed for a compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5283, and therefore his claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's abdominal hernia did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the lymph nodes in his neck was not incurred or aggravated by service, including exposure to herbicides. The cancer was first diagnosed many years after service and there is no evidence linking it to military service.

The Veteran's malignant carcinoid tumor of the bronchus and lung, along with his secondary diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine hyperplasia, is rated at a permanent and total disability rating.

The Veteran's heart disorder, including cardiomyopathy and cardiomegaly, is being remanded for further development as the Board requires a comprehensive VA medical examination to clarify the nature and etiology of his claimed condition.