Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right thumb disorder and other issues.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of VRAP benefits in the amount of $2,526.93 was validly created and is against equity and good conscience, thus granting a waiver to recover this debt.

The Veteran's appeal of the effective date for a separate award of left lower extremity numbness as secondary to lumbar spine disability was dismissed because it is not an issue that can be appealed.

The Veteran's bilateral hand disability was granted service connection based on direct evidence. His right shoulder DJD is rated at 40 percent, and his left shoulder DJD is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the severity of his pilonidal sinus throughout the appeals period and submitting the claim to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding the claimant's second husband's service and eligibility for accrued benefits.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Board found that the Veteran's scoliosis of the thoracic spine is a congenital defect and not a disease or injury. The preexisting condition was not aggravated during service, so service connection cannot be granted.

The Board has remanded all issues related to service connection due to incomplete records and inextricably intertwined SMC claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hand arthritis (other than the thumbs) did not begin during service and was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected ankle disability.

The Veteran's right foot hallux valgus is currently rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5280. For his left foot hallux valgus, prior to July 27, 2011, he was not entitled to a compensable rating. Since then, he has been assigned the maximum allowable rating.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's right hand gunshot wound residuals with degenerative joint disease effective March 19, 2007. The appeal was also resolved regarding an earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep walking disorder and antisocial personality disorder existed prior to service and were not aggravated by service. No other psychiatric disability was shown to have developed as a result of active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected perforated bowel residuals was granted, with the current 20 percent evaluation being maintained. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase to a higher rating.

Your appeal on the service connection for an organic brain syndrome has been dismissed because it is moot due to a previous Board decision denying the benefit.

The Veteran's skin disorders (actinic keratosis and seborrheic keratosis) were not incurred in service, including due to herbicide exposure or arc welding duties. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a connection between these conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cold injury residuals of the right and left feet, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on additional symptoms or findings beyond those already considered in the initial grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding the claimant's second husband's service and eligibility for accrued benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and an increased rating, finding that his right inguinal hernia did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant's notice of disagreement was timely filed and sent corrective notification as required by Hupp v. Nicholson, 21 Vet. App. 324 (2007). A medical opinion is requested to determine if any service-connected disabilities contributed to the cause of the Veteran's death or were related to his service.