Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran's paraplegia with loss of use of both lower extremities is not secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and denied the claim.

The Veteran's current nerve damage to the bilateral upper extremities is not related to his active service or a service-connected disability, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate disorder, claimed as benign prostatic hypertrophy, is not related to his active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. Therefore, service connection for this condition was denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's treatment for liver cancer and providing an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the accuracy of the dose estimate used in a previous opinion, and for a new examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the tumors.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current disability related to his cold injury during service, and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left foot disorder with degenerative changes.

The Veteran's service connection claim for cancer of the vocal cord is denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicide agents, and no other event, injury, or disease in service that may be related to his condition.

The Veteran's service-connected compression fracture, C4 with IVDS, was granted a 30 percent disability rating. The left shoulder paresis associated with the condition was also granted an increased evaluation from 20 to 60 percent effective January 29, 2015. TDIU based on service-connected disabilities prior to June 7, 2010, was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disability of the back and pulmonary disorder were not incurred in or related to his active service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The VA medical opinions provided significant probative value for these determinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased initial ratings for his RLS of both legs, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's left shoulder disability was not caused by VA medical treatment, and thus denied his claim for compensation under Section 1151.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the appellant's claim regarding his character of discharge. The Board also found that the appellant was insane at the time he committed the offenses resulting in his undesirable discharge, thus removing any bar to VA benefits.

The Board has granted a higher apportionment of 50 percent of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits on behalf of his minor children, G.B. and L.B., effective from July 11, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and records, including a filled out VA Form 21-8940 and April 2017 VA examination reports. The Veteran's TDIU claim is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of disability compensation benefits for the period from September 28, 2011, to December 16, 2011 was not properly created and is therefore not a valid debt. As a result, the appeal is granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for his current hip condition, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hip condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left stress reactions, distal femur and tibia, finding that there was no evidence of a moderate ankle disability in either lower extremity to warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran experienced additional disability resulting from VA surgical treatment in May 2000, which caused his current dental disability. The Board finds that the carelessness or error on VA's part was not reasonably foreseeable and grants compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.