Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disorder. The claim will be further developed and a new addendum opinion is required.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for mercury poisoning due to dental fillings is denied as there is no evidence of a causal relationship between his in-service dental work and the claimed symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for nasal obstruction with partial loss of smell is also denied because he did not incur an additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Veteran seeks a higher rating for her service-connected lumbago. The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination to assess the nature and severity of her disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's prostate condition and readjudicating the claims. The Veteran will be provided with a Supplemental Statement of the Case if his benefits are not granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's left gynecomastia has not required surgery or produced malignant neoplasms, disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, scars, or impairment of function. Therefore, a compensable rating for service-connected gynecomastia is denied.

The Board granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) on an extra-schedular basis, effective September 9, 2015. The Veteran's claim for schedular TDIU was dismissed as moot due to the grant of extra-schedular TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sickle cell anemia clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's recurrent nongonococcal urethritis was not manifested by voiding dysfunction, urinary frequency or obstructed voiding prior to July 14, 2015. From July 14, 2015, the condition has been manifested by marked obstructive symptomatology (weak stream), but no indication of urinary retention requiring catheterization.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic cough is service-connected, as it was incurred during active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's costochondritis is service-connected as it did not preexist his military service and was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including jock itch, is not service connected as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and/or heart disease or due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease and hemorrhoids, finding that these conditions are attributable to his active duty service. The claim for a skin disorder of the right forearm is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for her left knee disability is granted, with the condition being related to in-service injury and meeting all elements of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is REMANDED for further action, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks an effective date prior to June 4, 2010 for the assignment of a separate 30 percent disability rating for status post cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with residual progressive cognitive decline. The Board denied this request as there was no evidence of increased severity warranting such a rating before June 4, 2010.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's lupus is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service, specifically herbicide exposure.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the claim on appeal, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A new VA hernia residuals examination will be scheduled to determine the current level of severity of the Veteran's post-operative right inguinal hernia repair residuals.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for varicose veins and granted it, finding new and material evidence. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination.