Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's right knee and left knee DJD have been rated based on their current functional limitations, with the right knee receiving a higher evaluation due to total joint replacement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current restless leg syndrome is not related to service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for skin disorders and a blood/bone marrow disorder, finding no evidence of direct or presumptive service connection.

The appellant has established status as a claimant for basic eligibility for entitlement to VA death pension benefits, for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung or respiratory disability did not develop during his military service and is not related to any in-service event, injury, or illness. The VA examiner found no current diagnosis of a respiratory condition at the time of the examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for RSD and a sleep disorder. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability is granted.

The Board found no evidence of a current lung disability related to service, specifically not due to asbestos exposure or coral dust/sand exposure. The Veteran's shortness of breath and cough are unchallenged but the Board did not find a nexus between these symptoms and his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the etiology of the Veteran's cardiovascular disorder, including whether it is related to service-connected PTSD and/or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the right leg were found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they did not present with persistent edema or stasis pigmentation/eczema, and symptoms were relieved by elevation or compression hosiery.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred prior to April 22, 2010 is denied as there was no service-connected disability at the time. The appeal lacks legal merit.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have scleroderma due to his service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a nasal disorder was previously denied in July 2003 due to lack of evidence showing the condition occurred during active duty. The denial is dismissed as there are no valid claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's skin disability is related to his service, as he did not report for the previous examination. The case will be returned to the Board after the examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye vision loss is service-connected, while his right eye vision loss is not. The decision on the right eye issue remains pending as it was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart condition, including atrial fibrillation, is not etiologically related to his active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pelvic disorder is related to his military service. The case will be returned to the AOJ for readjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's lymphoma with Waldenström's macroglobinemia was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records, particularly from the Durham VAMC and Salisbury VAMC. The issues will be readjudicated after these records have been obtained.

The Veteran's request for waiver of overpayment was not timely filed, as it was received more than 180 days after the April 30, 2010 notice of indebtedness. The Board found no grounds for equitable tolling and denied the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for polycythemia vera and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.