Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of the decision to recoup a lump sum separation payment in the amount of $20,661.48 from his VA disability compensation benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left hand injury with embedded metal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and hidradenitis suppurativa. The evidence received since the March 2003 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected arteriosclerosis obliterans of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for epididymitis.

The Veteran's post-traumatic arthritis and osteochondral defect of the first metatarsophalangeal joint of the right foot is attributable to service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Videoconference hearing in accordance with the Veteran's request.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, including necrotizing perineal fasciitis residuals and transverse colostomy residuals. The Board has determined that additional development is needed as the claim involves medical opinions regarding aggravation of his gastrointestinal disorder by his service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as she was not legally married to the Veteran at the time of his death, and therefore cannot be considered his surviving spouse for VA benefits.

The Board found that the appellant's request for a waiver of overpayment was not timely filed, and therefore denied the claim.

The Veteran's pleural plaques disability was initially granted with a non-compensable rating, which was later increased to 10 percent effective February 21, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for blindness was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused his current vision problems, and the medical opinion found no link between any potential head trauma during service and his blindness.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic diarrhea is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neurological impairment is not related to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine, and thus cannot be granted a separate rating.

The Board has granted an initial noncompensable rating for the Veteran's right calf injury, muscle group XI. The disability is characterized by pain, soreness, swelling and tenderness without evidence of severe impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a current bilateral eye disability related to service, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left thumb disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and relationship to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's preexisting bipartite sesamoid bone in the right great toe has been aggravated by a service-connected disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's skin disorder, classified as Von Recklinghausen's disease (claimed as multiple lipomas), is not productive of scarring or disfigurement affecting the head, face, or neck. The condition involves less than 5 percent of the entire body and less than 5 percent of exposed areas affected.