Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining his medical records and scheduling a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his penis-related disability.

The Veteran's ulcerative colitis was rated at 10% prior to April 20, 2015 and increased to 30% effective April 20, 2015. The Board found that the evidence supported a higher rating of 60% for the period after April 20, 2015.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastritis was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his insomnia.

The Board found that the termination of VA compensation benefits due to 'fugitive felon' status from August 1, 2008, to September 1, 2008, was not proper and thus denied the claim.

The Board has been notified of the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal regarding service connection for fatty liver tissue, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral foot disabilities was received on May 24, 2010. The earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred is May 14, 2010. Therefore, the effective date prior to May 14, 2010 for the grant of separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral foot disabilities is denied.

The Board denied the reopening of the service connection claim for hypercholesterolemia as new and material evidence was not received, and the claim remains closed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right finger disability and whether it more nearly approximates ankylosis or amputation.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current ulcerative colitis to his military service, including exposure to anthrax vaccines. The preponderance of the evidence supports denying the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, is granted as the condition manifested after service and he had qualifying service.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals has been advanced, but he cancelled his request. The case is being remanded to schedule a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's leukemia, diagnosed after service and treated with bendamustine and rituximab, is considered to have manifested to a degree of 10 percent or more at a time after service. The Veteran had service of at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune during the period from March 1986 to July 1987, which qualifies him for presumptive service connection due to exposure to contaminated water.

The Veteran's claim for VA compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability as a result of ulnar nerve exploration surgery is denied because the evidence does not show that the carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA caused the Veteran's additional disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis, as well as his request for a higher rating for right knee strain, were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that these conditions are related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for additional educational benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) is denied as she has already used the maximum allowable entitlement of 48 months, which includes her previous use of Chapter 35 education benefits.

The Board denied the reopening of claims for service connection for the cause of death and nonservice-connected death pension due to insufficient new evidence, and also denied the claim for nonservice-connected death pension as her income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's application for waiver of overpayment was denied because it was not received within the required 180-day period after notification of the overpayment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's syringomyelia, bilateral leg and foot disabilities, and hypertension are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was not attributable to service, any incident of service, or a service-connected disability. The preponderance of evidence supports this finding.