Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records and for an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD) and any respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and associated paraesthesia and numbness in both legs, and determining whether earlier effective dates are warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left hip osteoarthritis disabilities were not manifest in service or to a degree of 10 percent within one year of separation, are unrelated to service, and were not caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran is eligible for dental treatment based on his service-connected conditions. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this determination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vascular disease and nerve damage are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a more comprehensive VA examination.

The Veteran's current left knee disability, characterized as left patellofemoral degenerative joint disease, is etiologically related to a left knee injury sustained during INACDUTRA in 2003. The Board finds that service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of right hip or right leg disorders, and thus service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board is remanding the case to attempt to obtain private medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of a neurological disorder of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the 20% and 10% disability ratings assigned for subluxation of the left knee and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, respectively. The Veteran's claim was based on direct service connection.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of the joints, to include the knees and ankles that manifested during or as a result of active military service. Her reported joint pain is not related to an undiagnosed illness related to her service in Southwest Asia.

The Board finds that the Veteran's multiple myeloma is related to his military service, including exposure to jet fuel and asbestos. Therefore, the claim of entitlement to service connection for multiple myeloma is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's opioid dependence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete service personnel records. The VA will obtain these records and then readjudicate the issue of basic eligibility for Montgomery GI Bill educational assistance benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities but found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's skin disorder is related to his military service, including Agent Orange exposure. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if any diagnosed skin disorders are at least as likely as not caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's marriage to the Appellant was not valid under VA regulations, as it did not meet the criteria for dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) and death pension benefits due to lack of a valid marriage within 15 years of the end of the Veteran's period of service or one year prior to his death. The Appellant does not meet the legal requirements for these benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial rating for the amputation of his right big toe has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal in a March 2016 written statement.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of her service records and loan repayment information. Her claim for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits at the 100 percent level remains pending.

The Board has awarded separate ratings for aphonia, urinary leakage, and bowel impairment as secondary to service-connected ALS. The issues listed on the title page of this decision are addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision below and are REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ).