Other conditions decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of the right rectus muscle injury was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The TDIU claim is also dismissed as there are no allegations of error in the determination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including verifying the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in the Philippines and obtaining a VA opinion regarding whether his death was due to such exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for myopia before a decision was made.

The Veteran's death was caused by pulmonary fibrosis, which is not service-connected. The Board needs clarification on the Veteran's periods of foreign service and potential herbicide exposure to determine if presumptive service connection for his cause of death can be granted.

The Board has denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted. The April 1996 rating decision is considered final as to the evidence then of record.

The Veteran's chronic fungal disease of the toes has been rated as 10 percent disabling for the entire appeal period, but does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under VA's schedular guidelines.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding VA's duty to assist and notification of accrued benefits claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for numbness of the bilateral lower extremities, CTS of the right upper extremity, and residuals of a fracture to the left fifth metatarsal joint as there is no evidence of a chronic neurologic disability or any other diagnosed condition that could be linked to her active duty service.

The Veteran's residuals of a pelvic fracture have been rated at 10 percent since May 2015, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his current symptoms.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 7, 2010 for the grant of service connection for major vascular neurocognitive disorder and major neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease, claimed as vascular dementia.

The Veteran does not have current chronic hypochromic anemia disability and the Board finds that she does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's right knee subluxation and instability is rated at 30 percent since March 6, 2014. The left knee subluxation and instability are rated at 20 percent from October 4, 2010 to March 6, 2014, and at 30 percent after that date.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and examination to address the Veteran's claimed stomach, esophageal, and intestinal conditions, including whether they are related to service or secondary to PTSD.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a toe disorder as moot due to the grant of service connection for bilateral hallux limitus. The groin disorder claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran died from respiratory failure due to pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and myocardial infarction. The cause of death is not service-connected.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as he did not meet the eligibility criteria to be considered a 'helpless child' due to his inability to support himself prior to turning eighteen.

The Board has remanded the case for issuance of a statement of the case concerning the issue of entitlement to additional non-service connected burial benefits so that the appellant may have the opportunity to complete an appeal on that issue (if she so desires).

The Board found that the overpayment for the period from November 1, 2000 to February 6, 2005 was valid. However, the overpayment for the period from February 7, 2005 to September 31, 2007 was not created due to VA administrative error and is therefore invalid.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination due to the need for updated information on his iritis condition, including whether he has experienced incapacitating episodes since 2008.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was denied as he did not have wartime service, which is a requirement for eligibility.