Other conditions decisions — 2015

The VA determined that the Veteran's current left eye asteroid hyalosis did not begin during service and is not otherwise related to active service. The Board found that the Veteran's current condition is a separate and unrelated disability from his refractive error diagnosed in service.

The Board has determined that there is not sufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD and finds no causal relationship between the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions (MDD, cocaine use disorder) and her active service. The claim for service connection for these conditions is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's urethrocutaneous fistulae with priapism is related to his service-connected segmental superficial thrombophlebitis of the right leg, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The appeal is pending until further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions on the Veteran's stomach disorder and tremors claims.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the left and right lower extremities are currently rated at 40 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of persistent ulceration or massive board-like edema.,For his left arm scar, the Veteran is entitled to separate ratings of 30 percent for each lower extremity under Diagnostic Code 5260 (loss of function of the upper extremities).

The Veteran's lipomas have been rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 7804 for scars that are unstable or painful. The Veteran has five painful scars resulting from lipoma removal.

The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis and awarded an effective date of May 2, 1981. However, the Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the termination of her VA disability compensation benefits effective August 1, 2009 has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right eye blindness, which he claims had its onset in service and is not related to any pre-existing condition, has been established. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on his ulcerative colitis and urge incontinence was withdrawn. The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 27, 2011, for the grant of service connection for urge incontinence. His rating for ulcerative colitis remains at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was due to his in-service herbicide exposure, leading to myelodysplasia and gastrointestinal bleeding. Service connection for ischemic heart disease associated with herbicide exposure is granted.

The Veteran's perforated colonic diverticulum was not incurred during a VA-provided colonoscopy, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right ear disability separate from his service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus. The claim for service connection for a right ear disability is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral varicocele and hydrocele have not been productive of persistent edema, stasis pigmentation or eczema, or ulceration. The Veteran's TMJ syndrome has resulted in an inter-incisal range of 31 to 40 mm.,Service connection for multiple symptoms is denied as the Veteran failed to identify specific conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a dental disorder and increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss were denied. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's former spouse, the appellant, is not eligible for an apportionment of his VA compensation benefits as she was not legally married to him at the time of filing and did not remarry him after their divorce.

The Board has determined that the preliminary issue of whether the overpayment of pension benefits in the amount of $7,182.00 was properly created (i.e., the validity/amount of the debt) needs to be addressed before proceeding with the waiver request.

The Veteran's skin disabilities other than tinea versicolor, tinea cruris, tinea pedis and tinea unguium are service-connected. His allergic rhinitis and bilateral serous otitis media were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (left tonsorial area) due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU remains pending as it is not related to service connection.