Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's leg disabilities, including osteochondroma of the left fibula and restless leg syndrome, were not incurred in service or caused by her bilateral foot disabilities. The appeal was denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected compression fracture of T-12 and L1 is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and seeking a new medical opinion regarding the Veteran's thymoma.

The RO granted service connection for ankylosis of the right knee and assigned a 30 percent evaluation effective March 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's recurrent anal fistula is related to his active duty service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his bilateral lower extremity femoral stress fractures.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to decide the issues of increased ratings for residuals of cold injuries to both feet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected right and left foot disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected death pension benefits, finding that her initial application was filed on September 30, 2010. The decision is based on the lack of evidence supporting her contention of prior applications.

The Board found that the discontinuance of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits from February 18, 2009 to June 4, 2009, based on fugitive felon status was not proper and thus denied the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant not receiving proper notice of a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The Veteran did not report for the hearing, and no notices were sent to the appellant.

The Veteran's skin disorder is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the nature and etiology of his claimed condition. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy, gout, actinic keratoses, and sleeplessness due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for colorectal cancer, which is related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board has determined that a VA examination and opinion are needed to address the relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for increased evaluations and service connection can be adjudicated. Specifically, VA treatment records from March 23, 2011 to February 11, 2014 need to be obtained, as well as any private inpatient treatment records at Doctors Hospital of Laredo.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The claim of entitlement to payment or reimbursement for private medical services will be reconsidered after the hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's ulcerative colitis preexisted his April 2006 to August 2006 period of active service and was aggravated by such service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hyperlipidemia is not etiologically related to her service-connected hypertension and therefore, does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's death was caused by a massive intracranial hemorrhage, which the VA experts opined was not related to his service-connected conditions or Agent Orange exposure. The Board found that there is insufficient evidence to establish that any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death.

The Board denied an increased rating for post-operative residuals of right inguinal hernia and found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD. The acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, was reopened but not considered a separate disability for VA compensation purposes.