Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran died in June 1997 and the appellant filed her claim for accrued benefits more than one year after his death. Therefore, she is not entitled to accrued benefits.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and to address the missing service medical treatment records. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected cold injury residuals prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the criteria for TDIU are met.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a government-furnished headstone or grave marker because AY died before 1990, and his grave is not considered an unmarked grave due to the presence of identifying numbers in a burial ledger.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied.,Service connection was granted for diffuse large cell lymphoma of the left testicle with orchiectomy, but the reduction from 100% to noncompensable has been found improper.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as chondromalacia, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and translations.

The Veteran died of metastatic pancreatic cancer, which was not service-connected and did not manifest within one year after discharge. The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death to Agent Orange exposure or any other service connection.

The August 1968 rating decision found that the Veteran's defective vision pre-existed his active service and was not aggravated by it, concluding that any aggravation would have been due to natural progress. The Board finds this conclusion incorrect based on clear and unmistakable error.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for myotonia congenita and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral maculopathy were denied as the Veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's cause of death is not related to his active service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents during the Vietnam Era.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hand disorders were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability and the claimed conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The claim for an apportionment of VA benefits for the Veteran's child is denied as there are no VA benefits to be apportioned.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA eye examination to determine if any diagnosed eye disorders other than presbyopia and myopia are related to service. The Veteran's lay statements indicate that his dry eye syndrome began during military service in Iraq, but this must be addressed by the examiner.

The Board denied service connection for aortic stenosis, finding that the condition was not shown to have had onset during service or within one year of separation from service. The Board also found no evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is productive of limitation of flexion to 45 degrees and extension to zero degrees, which are the most severe findings. These limitations have been considered in determining a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's residuals of left scrotal epididymectomy and left chronic epididymitis are currently rated at 30 percent, effective October 1, 2008. The rating is granted as the evidence shows that he requires absorbent materials to be changed two to four times per day for voiding dysfunction prior to August 4, 2015 and less than twice a day thereafter. His TDIU claim was denied due to his current employment.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is found to be at least as likely as not related to service, specifically herbicide exposure during active duty in Vietnam. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records.