Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered additional examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's heart condition is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, or medications used for it.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for a heart disability and has determined that service connection is warranted based on evidence showing premature ventricular and atrial contractions were incurred during service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of scoliosis and granted it, finding that the Veteran's preexisting congenital scoliosis was aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and therefore, burial benefits are denied. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is also denied.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of disability compensation benefits in the amount of $7,670.80 was not properly created due to sole administrative error on VA's part and notified them of his return to active service.

The Board granted service connection for left hallux valgus but denied service connection for right hallux valgus, finding that the pre-existing condition did not worsen during service.

The appeal is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing before the Board at the RO.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 40 percent disabling, and he was granted a separate rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy with a 10 percent evaluation effective October 15, 2014. The Board found that the criteria for an increased schedular evaluation in excess of 40 percent were not met.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed as moot because he did not initiate an appeal regarding the effective date assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left hip disability is not related to active duty or service-connected Osgood Schlatter's disease, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected right ring finger degenerative joint disease has been rated as a noncompensable disability, but the Board finds that a compensable rating of 10 percent is warranted based on functional loss due to pain and weakness.

The Veteran's gunshot wound to the right upper arm resulted in moderate disability of Muscle Groups V, VI, and VII from June 16, 2015. Prior to this date, he had no more than moderate disability of Muscle Groups V and VI.,From June 16, 2015, his gunshot wound has been manifested by moderate disability of Muscle Groups V, VI, and VII with additional peripheral vascular disease.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Thygeson's keratitis was denied. The Board found that the current evaluation of 10 percent adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his shrapnel wounds, were neither a principle nor contributory cause of his death from sepsis secondary to Fournier's syndrome. The VA examiner opined that non-specific colitis was the likely source of his infection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the service connection claim for lung disability.

The Veteran's service-connected SFW of the abdomen with laceration to the liver disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptomatology.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals related to a hallux valgus disorder of the left foot, rated as 10 percent disabling, do not meet or approximate criteria for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran has a combined disability rating of 40 percent.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis has been rated at a 30 percent disability rating, effective October 3, 2007.

The Board finds that an effective date earlier than March 5, 2009 for the award of dependency benefits for the Veteran's current spouse is not warranted due to the failure to timely provide necessary documentation within one year of marriage.