Other conditions decisions — 2017

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

The Veteran's claim for education benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38 of the United States Code is denied as she did not meet the eligibility criteria due to her discharge from active duty being for convenience of the government and not meeting the required service requirements.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's myofascial pain syndrome is a manifestation of her service-connected residuals of left trapezius strain, and thus does not warrant separate service connection.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to issues with scheduling a hearing for the appellant, who is currently incarcerated. The appeal will need to be handled again.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA opinion to address the Veteran's recent complaints of chronic cough and whether any current respiratory disability is related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's traumatic arthritis of the bilateral hips is not related to service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's colon cancer is not attributable to active duty service, including as due to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for myalgia of the right leg, Muscle Group XIII is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's chronic peptic ulcer disease with recurrent ulcer and history of deformity of duodenal CAP is rated at 60 percent since September 20, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's disequilibrium was not manifested during his active service, is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to his active service, and is not shown to be caused or made worse by the service-connected right ear hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment has been dismissed without prejudice due to the death of the Veteran, as the Board does not have jurisdiction over this matter.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for a callus on the fifth finger of the Veteran's right hand and denied the claim. The lower back pain issue is remanded due to insufficient examination results.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for allergies, finding that his current allergic rhinitis condition is not related to an in-service event, injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides and benzene during service. The AOJ is instructed to conduct further development, including seeking Reserve service records and verifying the Veteran's claims of exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a videoconference hearing and further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection and determined that a current intestinal disability resulting in resection of the small intestine is related to his active duty service. The Veteran's acute intestinal volvulus, which led to the need for surgery, is also considered service-connected.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a right calcaneal fracture, claimed as secondary to his service-connected ulnar nerve transposition and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The Board finds that the claim must be remanded due to the need for an examination to assess whether the calcaneal fracture has been aggravated by the service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA psychiatric examination to assess the impact of his service-connected schizoaffective disorder on his ability to work.

The Board finds that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma is not related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for her service-connected stomach and digestive condition, to include chronic constipation (claimed as gastroenteritis), is granted. The issue of service connection for meningococcemia is dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The TDIU claim remains pending.