Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) regarding the Veteran's request for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility in February 2016. The appeal is not about service connection and thus does not involve any conditions, exposure basis, or service connection theory.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral cataracts are related to his in-service eye injury sustained during combat, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for accrued benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, resulting in a finding of additional disability due to VA's negligence during surgery on December 3, 2004. The Veteran is entitled to compensation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a memory loss disorder is denied as there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing head injuries. The Board finds that the current memory loss disorder is not related to his in-service boxing or personal assaults, and is more likely due to PTSD. For the increased rating claims, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's SFW residuals of the left and right legs have been rated as 10 percent disabling each, with a separate 10 percent rating for SFW residuals of the right leg involving muscle group XIV.

The Board has found that the Veteran's preexisting amblyopia and visual field constriction worsened during service, granting entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's right hand Dupuytren's contracture is rated at 70 percent, the maximum schedular rating. The left hand Dupuytren's contracture is rated at 30 percent effective July 1, 2013.

The Veteran's death was due to cardio respiratory arrest caused by chronic alcohol abuse. The Board has requested an additional medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service may have contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that an increased disability rating of 30 percent is warranted for the service-connected left ulnar nerve disability from May 24, 2007 to April 30, 2014.

The Veteran's request for education benefits under the Montgomery GI-Bill Selected Reserves (Chapter 1606) for reimbursement of licensing and certification tests was denied as none of the courses or exams he sought were approved for payment by VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disorder and residuals of head trauma are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's teeth erosion could be restored by suitable prosthesis, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 9913.

The Board found that the Veteran did not participate in radiation-risk activities during service, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death based on a direct theory. The cause of death was determined to be metastatic pancreatic cancer.

The Board has found that the character of the appellant's service constitutes a bar to receiving VA benefits. The case is being remanded for additional efforts to obtain the appellant's complete personnel file.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current inguinal hernias, as the previous opinion was not adequate.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability is at least as likely as not related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for a skin disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification regarding records requested from the Air Force Reserves Personnel Center and the NPRC, as well as for the Veteran to provide a complete date of his claimed back injury and whether or not it occurred during active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are characterized by corrected distance vision of 20/40 or better in both eyes, impairment of visual field manifested by concentric contraction with the remaining field of 56 degrees in both eyes and no evidence of scotoma or impairment of muscle function of the eyes. The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral cataracts.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a separately diagnosed throat disorder and the Veteran's complaints are related to his service-connected sinusitis. The claim for service connection for disabilities of the bilateral upper extremities is also denied.