Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of staged rating if appropriate. The claims include an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability and TDIU.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder was rated as permanently and totally disabling effective June 25, 2004. The appellant reached his 26th birthday after this effective date, thus he is not eligible for basic eligibility for Chapter 35 educational benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development of evidence, including obtaining medical records and financial information from the appellant and Tulsa Community College.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and instructed the RO to attempt to locate additional medical records from Dr. Rogers, West Oaks Hospital, Dr. Blount, and Dr. Busch.

The Veteran's right foot disability, including his post-operative scar, is currently rated at the maximum possible under applicable rating criteria.,A higher initial compensable rating of 10 percent for the consequent right Achilles tendon repair scar has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Paget's disease, finding that while he was exposed to ionizing radiation during military service, there is no evidence linking his current condition to his service or exposure.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right eye astigmatism is not considered a disability for VA purposes and thus cannot be granted service connection.

The Veteran's left hip disability, manifested by malunion of the femur with moderate hip disability, is rated at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's skin disorder and bilateral first metatarsal degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for service-connected dysthymic disorder and did not address the TDIU claim due to lack of evidence showing that the appellant's service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic cardiovascular and respiratory disabilities were denied, as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation. The Board also found that the Veteran was not entitled to TDIU due to his non-service-connected conditions.

The Board found that there was no current disability of cold injury residuals, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate VA opinion regarding whether the Appellant was insane at the time he committed misconduct that led to his undesirable discharge in September 1977. The case will be reconsidered after this development.

The VA examiners determined that the Veteran's current right hip disabilities are not proximately due to, caused by, or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, diagnosed as spontaneous pneumothorax, is currently rated at 100 percent disabling since July 21, 2011. The rating is based on the need for outpatient oxygen therapy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral flatfeet were incurred during active duty service and is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's abdominal, respiratory, and liver disorders based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's skin condition, including actinic keratosis, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, was not found to warrant a higher rating than the current 10 percent or 30 percent assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's testicular disability, diagnosed as a testicular abnormality and hydroceles, is not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the current condition was incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with communication and notification, including failure to provide the Veteran with a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) at his current address. The Veteran's hearing was not attended.