Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board found that the Veteran's HIV was not incurred in active duty and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's right great toe arthritis, which causes painful motion and pain on weight-bearing, is rated at a noncompensable level. However, the Board has granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent effective August 6, 2007.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right foot degenerative joint disease is at least in equipoise with his service-connected calluses, and grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting spina bifida occulta at S1 did not become aggravated during service, and there is no evidence of a back disability in service. The current herniated disc at L5-S1 was first diagnosed many years after service and is not related to his pre-existing condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin disability, finding it likely related to herbicide exposure during military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right eye disability and varicose veins are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining translations of statements from the Veteran, locating missing VA examination reports, and arranging further medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for postoperative residuals of rhinoplasty is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and arranging for an eye examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right eye disability.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of the Veteran's death, finding that urosepsis was not incurred in or caused by service and there was no evidence of exposure to herbicides during service.

The Court has ruled that service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including intermittent explosive disorder, is warranted based on its onset during service. The Board's decision has been reversed and the claim is granted.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a back disorder that he contends developed in service due to an injury. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining VA treatment records and uploading SSA records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ulcerative colitis did not develop during his active duty or a period of ACDUTRA, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and a VA examination to determine the etiology of his heart disability.

The Veteran's heart murmur was noted at service entrance but did not increase in severity during service. The cerebrovascular disability is not considered to have been incurred or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a disability manifested by loss of balance and for hypertension, but denied reopening of his claim for service connection for a pulmonary disability. The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for left ear hearing loss and otitis media.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD and his current acquired psychiatric disorder is cocaine and cannabis abuse, which are conditions for which a finding of service incurrence is precluded by law. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was denied.

The Veteran's claims for cellulitis of the right hand and acute gonococcal urethritis were denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of an in-service injury. The claim to reopen service connection for cold weather injury residuals affecting all joints was also denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was denied as he did not serve on active duty during a period of war.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hallux limitus with degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joints can be attributed, at least in part, to his service-connected knee disabilities. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's acute myelogenous leukemia is at least as likely as not related to herbicide exposure in service, and the claim for service connection is granted.