Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a right great toe disability, but the earliest possible effective date is May 15, 2010, as this is the date of receipt of his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal regarding the validity of a $1,445.00 pension debt.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for slight lateral instability of the left knee, associated with service-connected partial left anterior cruciate ligament tear.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depressed and anxious mood, was denied as there is no current diagnosis of a chronic condition. The Veteran's adjustment disorder is considered acute and expected to resolve within the next three to five years.

The Board found that the Veteran's currently shown bilateral hip disabilities did not begin during service and are therefore not service connected.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left and right hallux valgus were denied, except for a temporary total rating granted after surgery.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma and scleroderma or residuals of a skin disability are not related to any incident in service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's postoperative Staphylococcus infection following coronary artery bypass grafting was not caused by VA care, but rather the result of his own negligence in failing to follow medical instructions. The Board found that there was no evidence of fault on VA's part and concluded that the additional disability did not meet the criteria for 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to conflicting information regarding the Veteran's employment status and income. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, including inflammatory bowel disease and ulcerative colitis, was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for this condition as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and found that the Appellant's minor child's Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits should not be excluded from countable income for death pension purposes. The Board concluded that SSA benefits are considered income, and therefore do not qualify for exclusion under Section 3.272(a), (b), or (m).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the provision of a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his diagnosed eye conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a need for additional medical records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's cold urticaria and hives have not resulted in any recurrent debilitating episodes or intermittent systemic immunosuppressive therapy, thus the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The appeal is being remanded due to the submission of additional evidence and a need for further development, including a supplemental statement of the case and a hearing.

The Veteran's skin disorder claim is being remanded for a new VA examination to address the various theories of entitlement, including direct service connection and any potential aggravation or proximate cause.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for issuance of an SOC regarding the issue of entitlement to waiver of recovery of a service-connected compensation benefits overpayment in the amount of $16,287.74.

The Veteran's ex-spouse is seeking an apportionment of the Veteran's disability compensation benefits from May 2003 to November 2006. The appeal was remanded due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC).