Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's cancer was not a presumptive condition due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran does not have a current disability or residuals thereof, and therefore service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a visual disability, claimed as photosensitivity and unusual blood vessels, is being remanded due to the need for additional development including an examination.

The Veteran's mitral valve prolapse has been rated at 10 percent since January 2010. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have any current symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness or syncope with a workload of 8-10 METs.,The Veteran's chronic glomerulonephritis has been rated at noncompensable since January 2010. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have any albumin and casts with history of acute nephritis, nor transient or slight edema or hypertension.

The Veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure, was not found to be related to his military service or presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing records and schedule a videoconference hearing. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for residuals of fracture, 2nd and 3rd metatarsal heads, right foot, and entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) prior October 1, 2014 are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left lower extremity disabilities are not related to his active service, including his reported injuries from jumping off of vehicles or the Asian flu. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease and peripheral neuropathy were less likely than not causally related to his active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for radiculitis in the left lower extremity and granted it as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's radiculitis is found to be caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, finding that the appellant's claim was previously explicitly denied in a February 1985 rating decision and subsequent decisions. The current effective date of February 24, 2011, is appropriate.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional pension benefits was denied as she first reported having a dependent child on January 27, 2012.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for amebiasis and other digestive system conditions, as new evidence was submitted that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the reduction of the rating for systemic lupus erythematosus from 100 percent to 30 percent was proper, as evidenced by full and complete examinations showing sustained material improvement under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board denied reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, neck injury, and back injury due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hammertoes were less likely than not incurred in or caused by his military service, including due to improperly fitted shoes during boot wear. The condition was determined to be a direct result of his pre-existing pes planus.

The Board finds that the unearned income from the Texas Lottery Commission in 2010 is not considered countable income for VA pension purposes, and thus denies the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected dermatophytosis was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran does not have Raynaud's syndrome of the toes and there is no evidence to support a finding that his peripheral vascular disease, which he has been service connected for, is related to cold exposure in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for Crohn's disease prior to June 10, 2016 and entitlement to a TDIU prior to May 18, 2016. The effective date for service connection remains October 29, 2010.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have verified service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, he lacks the requisite service to establish status as a 'veteran' and render him eligible for VA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left subdural hematoma, status post craniotomy, was not incurred in or related to service and is unrelated to any service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service connection claim for colon cancer was denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The medical evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's colon cancer constitutes a respiratory cancer or other cancer specified under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).