Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a right leg disorder, including thrombosis due to lack of evidence showing VA carelessness or negligence caused additional disability.

The Veteran's appeal is to determine if he should be granted an earlier effective date for his TDIU, which was previously granted on July 29, 2015. The case has been remanded due to the RO not issuing a statement of the case (SOC) addressing this issue.

The Board denied service connection for T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGL) and the Veteran appealed. The appeal is currently pending as he requested a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge via videoconference from the RO.

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye disabilities, including presbyopia, blepharitis with dry eye syndrome, and nuclear sclerotic cataracts, were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a left hand little finger disability during service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. As such, the claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left index trigger finger, finding that the Veteran's condition was incurred during his active duty in the Air Force Reserve from September 2001 to September 2002. The issues of service connection for inflammatory bowel disease and diverticulosis are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's right hand nerve damage is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to her service-connected ganglion cyst of the right hand.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right hydrocele disability. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed right hydrocele, including whether it is related to or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is found to be related to his service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are addressed in this decision.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left foot disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted by the Veteran raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating his claim. The issue is now on appeal to determine whether service connection should be granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and determining whether the Veteran's bowel disability is related to her service-connected bladder disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant not attending a scheduled hearing and because his address was not updated, preventing him from receiving timely notice of the hearing. The appellant is requested to be rescheduled for a travel Board hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for her total disability rating due to rectovaginal fistula, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the July 1995 rating decision that assigned a 10 percent initial rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining evidence of expenses incurred as a result of the Veteran's last sickness and burial. The appellant will be provided an opportunity to submit such evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a crush injury to left index, middle, and ring fingers with degenerative changes of the middle finger are currently rated at 10 percent. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there is no limitation of motion or ankylosis that would warrant a more severe evaluation.

The Veteran was not rated totally disabled due to a service-connected disability for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding his death in March 2004. Therefore, the appellant's claim for enhanced DIC benefits is denied.

The Veteran's nosebleeds were manifested by occasional nasal drainage, and he was separately service-connected for chronic headaches due to boxing. The Board found that the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of nosebleeds were not met.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's skin disorder is not related to his service or exposure to herbicides, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's double vision is occasional and correctable with spectacles, meeting the criteria for a non-compensable rating under both old and new VA rating criteria.

For the initial rating period from March 6, 2013, the residuals of a ventral hernia have included healed postoperative wounds without additional disability or a supporting belt. The criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7339 have not been met.