Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of payment or reimbursement for unauthorized private medical expenses incurred at Appalachian Regional Healthcare Medical Center on March 3, 2014.

The Veteran does not have herpes that was incurred or aggravated in active military service.

The Veteran's post-surgical hernia of the abdominal wall is currently rated at 20 percent, which reflects symptoms consistent with a small ventral hernia that does not require significant support from a belt under ordinary circumstances. The evidence does not indicate any larger or more severe condition warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for meningioma has been fully granted by the RO in a March 2016 rating decision, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hand and/or thumb disability is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability was found to not warrant an increased rating prior to September 6, 2011 and since then has been rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied accrued benefits in excess of $11,816.00 for the Veteran's last sickness and burial as the appellant did not satisfy the statutory definition of 'child' under 38 U.S.C.A. § 101(4)(A) to be eligible for the payment of accrued benefits.

The Veteran's dental and jaw issues are not service-connected as they are not related to her in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The skull fracture was rated as 10% from August 21, 2014 and the maxilla fracture did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee and left knee disabilities have been denied. The current rating of 40 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is considered appropriate, as it reflects limitation of extension to no worse than 35 degrees, even when taking into account pain.

The Veteran's death was attributed to cardiac arrhythmia due to or as a consequence of electrolyte imbalance, which is related to Agent Orange exposure. However, the remand requires further examination and opinion regarding whether polycystic kidney disease and/or renal cell carcinoma are also related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and extent of his right and left lower extremity weakness, as current examination reports are inadequate.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for left eye disability, including a chalazion and mild corneal neovascularization. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a breast implant rupture is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Appellant's failure to appear for a scheduled hearing. The case will be rescheduled for a VA videoconference hearing at the earliest opportunity.

The Veteran's service-connected cephalgia is rated at 50 percent, the maximum schedular evaluation available under Diagnostic Code 8100. The Board finds that the evidence more nearly approximates the criteria for a 50 percent evaluation due to frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability.

The Veteran's claim for additional compensation for a spouse was granted effective January 30, 2003, based on his service-connected disabilities meeting the schedular criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding functional loss, as well as possible separate ratings for degenerative arthritis and chronic strain of the lateral collateral ligament.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disability did not begin during his active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and is not otherwise related to service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment was denied as it was not received within the 180-day time limit mandated by law.