Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether anxiety was a substantial or contributing factor in the Veteran's death. The appeal is currently pending and will be reconsidered after the additional development.

The Veteran's left Achilles tendinitis and talonavicular arthritis have resulted in marked limitation of motion since March 20, 2010. The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for this period.

The appellant's claim for an effective date prior to April 12, 2006, for the grant of permanent incapacity for self-support was denied as her eligibility technically dates back to before she turned 18 but her claim was not filed until April 12, 2006.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death during the pendency of the case.

The Veteran's residuals of a left leg contusion are productive of pain, mild swelling and fatigue, which approximate a slight disability. The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran is entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a left leg contusion.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hip disability is not related to his active service and was not caused or permanently worsened by a service-connected right knee disability. As such, the claim for service connection for a right hip disability is denied.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's fatal supranuclear palsy is related to his acknowledged in-service radiation exposure or if his service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and a bladder disorder, finding no evidence to support these claims. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for groin injury residuals, including a hernia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability, claimed as removal of teeth numbered 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 16, and 31 is denied. The Board found that the loss of these teeth was not due to any in-service exposure or trauma.

The Veteran's testicular cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance were not met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease with spondylolisthesis is not related to his active service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's skin cancer was diagnosed decades after service and there is no evidence linking it to his military service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the evidence does not show P.B. Jr. was permanently incapable of self-support by reason of physical or mental defect at the date he turned 18 years old.

The Veteran developed blindness in his right eye following a surgical procedure, but the additional disability was not caused by VA negligence or fault.

The Board has granted the Appellant's request to reopen her claim of service connection for cause of death and has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, acute myelocytic leukemia, is related to exposure to herbicides during military service. The Board found a positive medical opinion linking the condition to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a new VA examination and updating of the claim file with any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's abdominal hernia has been remanded for a new VA examination to assess its current severity, as the previous examination did not consider all of his symptoms and treatments.

The Veteran is entitled to an effective date of December 16, 2008 for the award of additional compensation benefits for a dependent spouse. The Board has determined that an earlier effective date is warranted due to VA's failure to notify the correct address and the Veteran's credible assertion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death is related to his military service, specifically his active duty service in Vietnam and Korea. The evidence supports a connection between the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis from active duty service and his subsequent pneumonia, which contributed to his death.