Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a hearing for the Veteran. The appeal is not about service connection and thus does not specify any conditions or exposure basis.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed DJD of the right hip is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected right ankle disability, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a compensable rating for his service-connected bilateral eye condition is being remanded due to concerns raised by the Court regarding the adequacy of the VA examinations used in the previous decision.

The Veteran's anal fissure disability is rated at 60 percent since November 17, 2016. This rating reflects the extensive leakage and fairly frequent involuntary bowel movements she experiences.

The Veteran's service-connected left hand disability has not been manifested by limitation of motion or ankylosis, but he does have arthritis with occasional pain and weakness. The Board finds that a 10 percent evaluation is warranted for his residuals of the fracture.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 0 percent for genitourinary symptoms as a residual of the excision of a ruptured varicocele is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records from SSA.

The Veteran's testicular cancer is being remanded for an additional VA examination to determine if it is related to his service at Camp Lejeune. The examiner will need to address the length of exposure, the rarity of the disease, and the unorthodox age of the Veteran's diagnosis.

The Veteran's disability ratings for residuals of a stress fracture of the pelvis and left tibia have been granted, with the right hip rated at 10 percent and the left knee rated at 10 percent prior to October 6, 2009. From that date onward, the rating remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic ulcer disease with a history of surgery is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current manifestations of his condition.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's esophageal cancer was aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax are currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 6843. The evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hypoxemia is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Board found that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma did not originate in service or until years thereafter, and is not otherwise etiologically related to an injury, disease, or other event in active service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for chronic venous insufficiency of the left lower extremity, effective from November 19, 2015. The Veteran's right leg lymphedema is secondary to his service-connected left leg condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Tourette's syndrome first manifested during service and is not aggravated by service, thus granting service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right femur fracture was denied as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it results in no more than moderate left foot injury.

The Veteran's right thumb degenerative joint disease is currently evaluated as noncompensable under Diagnostic Code 5228, but the Board has granted an initial rating of 10 percent for this condition based on painful motion. The issues regarding service connection for a right wrist disability and right hand arthritis are remanded to allow for further development.