Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right lower extremity varicose veins.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as there is no evidence of hospitalization in excess of 21 days or treatment requiring convalescence for the service-connected nephrolithiasis disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's decreased sensation of the right and left lower extremities has been rated as secondary to his service-connected anterior compartment syndrome. The Board finds that a 10% rating is warranted for each affected limb.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and ischemia of the bilateral lower extremities is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination, as well as additional development of his claims file.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as reimbursement for his mother's last illness and burial, finding that the home care services he provided were not associated with her last sickness or burial expenses.

The Veteran's service-connected Hodgkin's disease is reasonably shown to have caused his death, thus granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits is denied because his service did not include any period of wartime service, and thus he does not meet the threshold criteria for basic eligibility.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for frostbite of the lower extremities, bilateral foot disabilities, and a disability manifested by swelling in the right hand and fingers are denied. Service connection is granted for Raynaud's of the bilateral hands.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected chronic brain syndrome and right calcaneus fracture are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected xerosis did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The condition covered less than 20% of his body and exposed areas, and no systemic therapy with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs were required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand degenerative joint disease is related to an in-service injury, but there is no evidence of a current right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected status post nasal fracture and status post inferior orbital rim fracture do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of loss of part of the nose or scars causing obvious disfigurement or exposing both nasal passages.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including an examination and a videoconference hearing. The claims for increased evaluation of thoracic spine disability and TDIU are inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran was correctly diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and did not have Parkinson's disease. The cause of death is attributed to PSP, which the Board determined was not related to his active service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected back strain.

The Board determined that the Veteran does not have a current heart disability, and his claimed heart murmur is likely physiological. The service connection for chest pain was also denied as there is no evidence of a current cardiac condition.

The Veteran's service-connected amebiasis with Reiter syndrome is considered to be the cause of his right hip/groin injury, resulting in a grant of service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of fracture of the left femur was denied as his condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity neuritis is service-connected as secondary to his lumbar spine disability, and the effective date for this connection has been set at March 29, 2004. The Veteran cannot obtain an earlier effective date because he has not disputed the assigned effective date for his lumbar spine disability.