Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for increased rating and TDIU due to service-connected left elbow traumatic arthritis has been granted, with a combined rating of 70 percent. The effective date is not specified as the issue was remanded.

The Board has found that the Veteran's currently diagnosed memory loss disorder, Alzheimer's disease with dementia, was not present during active service and did not develop as a result of any incident during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a memory loss disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's urticaria with angioedema was not incurred in or aggravated by her military service and is not secondary to her service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, she does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and clarifying his employment status.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Reserve duty treatment records and providing an addendum opinion from a VA orthopedic specialist.

The Veteran's service-connected HNP with laminectomy at L4-5 has been rated as 40 percent disabling since 1989. The September 2013 VA examination found the Veteran's pain to be constant, dull and intermittently sharp, averaging a 6 out of 10 on the pain scale.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected abdominal adhesions, status post caesarian section, to include restoration of a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his left thumb disability. The AOJ must also determine if arthritis in the left hand is related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral foot disability is being remanded due to the failure to report for a VA examination and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle and foot disabilities have been denied. The issues of service connection for arthritis of the arms and spine are pending.

The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected right lower extremity radiculitis. The Board has remanded the claim due to the failure of the Veteran to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for larynx cancer and alopecia due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset of his conditions are considered credible, and medical opinions supporting a relationship between his conditions and radiation exposure have been provided.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for myopia and presbyopia. The Veteran's in-service records show these conditions, but they are considered developmental abnormalities and thus not service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of a hearing scheduled for January 2016. The Veteran will be given an opportunity to provide evidence in support of his claims.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left thumb amputation, which occurred in December 2008. The claim was remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records from the mid-1970s and onwards.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for rotting and decaying teeth, which he claims are secondary to medications taken for his PTSD. The case has been remanded due to incomplete examination.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the appellant cannot be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse due to a divorce during his lifetime and separations not attributable to fault of the appellant. The case is being remanded for further investigation into these issues.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the residual granuloma of the right forearm from retained shrapnel causes any disfigurement, results in disabling effects or impairment of function. Therefore, the claim for an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for this condition is denied.