Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's somatic symptom disorder, previously rated as hypochondriasis, is currently evaluated at a 10 percent rating. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an increase in this evaluation.

The Veteran's annual income, including his spouse's Social Security benefits, exceeds the maximum allowable amount for a nonservice-connected pension benefit.

The Board denied the Veteran's application for waiver of overpayment of $3,000 in VA education benefits due to fault on his part and lack of equity and good conscience. The decision found that recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glioblastoma resulted from exposure to environmental hazards, specifically burn pits and oil fires, during his service in the Persian Gulf. The evidence supports a finding of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's primary insomnia has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent initial rating, which is the minimum compensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected mastoiditis with perforated left tympanic membrane is rated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 6211, and a higher rating is not available. The Board finds that the criteria for a compensable rating are not met.

The Veteran's service-connected episodic paresthesia of the upper extremities (right and left hands) was previously rated as noncompensable prior to September 18, 2015. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed chronic candida is related to his service and has been present since service, granting service connection for a skin disorder.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for a bilateral leg disability allegedly resulting from VA medical care in September 2008. The Board has ordered additional development to obtain the consent form and determine if there was a delay in identifying neck pathology, whether the Veteran incurred additional disability as a result of VA care, and if so, whether it was due to an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a supplemental VA etiology opinion and adjudicating the new and material evidence issue. The appellant's claims of service connection for cause of death and reopening her nonservice-connected death pension claim are pending.

The Board denied service connection for a left lower jaw disability and stomach and colon disability, finding that the pre-existing tumor did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to its rapid growth during service. Service connection was also denied for a stomach and colon disability as secondary to the jaw disability.

The Veteran's overpayment of improved pension benefits was waived due to financial hardship and lack of fault on their part in incurring the debt.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic otitis externa as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss aggravates his chronic otitis externa.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for gout, which he claims was caused or permanently worsened by his service-connected 'Recurrent Nephrolithiasis with Urethral Stricture'. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the gout was aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to inadequate examination and failure to address relevant medical evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hernia residuals and residuals of a right side rib procedure as the evidence did not support a link to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is denied as he only has one period of service with an under honorable conditions discharge, which does not meet the eligibility requirements.

The March 2004 rating decision incorrectly denied service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the bilateral lower extremities due to lack of evidence in service treatment records. The Veteran's lay statements and VA examiner's opinion supported his claim, indicating exposure to cold during military service and current symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen her previously denied claim. The Board also found that her right hip disorder was not caused or aggravated by her service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a challenge of the validity of the underlying debt and overpayment. The case will be returned to the Board after any necessary corrections are made.