Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's service-connected right eye status-post pterygium excision and pingueculum is currently rated at 20 percent, effective November 13, 2014. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's claimed residuals of electrical shock.

The Veteran's postoperative Freiberg's disease right second toe has been rated at 30 percent since November 5, 2014. The Board finds the disability to be severe and grants a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to that date.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shell fragment wounds of the right forearm was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The effective date for service connection is set at January 25, 2005.

The Board granted the appellant's claim, finding that service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is warranted due to equipoise evidence in favor of a link between the Veteran's death and his military service. The effective date was set at August 1, 1990, which is the first day of the month of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is currently in remission, but he continues to experience fatigue and mild cognitive impairment. The Board finds that a 20 percent disability rating for residuals of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is warranted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left foot metatarsalgia, as secondary to a service-connected bunion, was reopened and granted. Bilateral hammertoes were also granted initial noncompensable ratings effective April 14, 2015.

The Veteran's dysthesia upper extremity, right with cubital tunnel syndrome is rated at 30 percent since August 10, 2015. His status post bunionectomy, right with residual pain, remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a neurologic disability of the lower extremities is denied. The Board finds no current diagnosis of such condition. For the entire appeal period, the criteria for an increased evaluation of 20 percent for a lumbar strain have been met.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current left shoulder disability to his service, and thus denied service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for death pension benefits and did not reopen her previously denied claim of service connection for a skin disorder due to exposure to Agent Orange. The issue of entitlement to burial benefits was resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his varicose veins, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings during any of the specified periods.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records from Capital Region Orthopedics, and the claim is not yet ready for further review.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 30 percent prior to January 20, 2012 and in excess of 30 percent from January 20, 2012. The Board denied a higher rating for the service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA Vocational Rehabilitation records and any outstanding treatment records. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back strain is related to his active duty service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's low back disability, evaluated as 10 percent prior to July 28, 2015 and 20 percent thereafter, was found not to meet the criteria for a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right elbow disorder as the result of VA treatment was denied because his additional disability did not meet the criteria set forth in the regulation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with VA examinations to determine if he qualifies for large scale home modifications as part of his Independent Living Plan (HISA) grant. The issues of service connection for various conditions are also pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's surviving spouse was not in need of regular aid and attendance by another individual prior to May 23, 2014, and therefore denied her claim for special monthly pension.