Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a broken nose, to include a deviated septum, requires additional development due to conflicting medical findings and diagnoses.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's endometriosis is related to her active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service in Vietnam is considered, and the appellant has been diagnosed with spina bifida. The Board grants eligibility for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1805.

The Board has remanded the case due to a requested Travel Board hearing that was not scheduled. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending and will be addressed after scheduling the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to a requested Travel Board hearing not being scheduled. The appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA benefits, including nonservice-connected benefits, is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed bilateral knee conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome, and vertigo. The claims are also being remanded because of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding Vocational Rehabilitation and Education (VR&E) benefits, leaving the case dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel and treatment records, researching exposure to herbicides or ground/inland waters in Vietnam, and providing a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left hip disabilities have not manifested any additional functional impairment beyond what is already compensated by a 10 percent rating, thus denying entitlement to higher initial disability ratings for both hips.

The Board has determined that the appellant's expenses in an independent living facility are custodial care and excludable from countable annual income for nonservice-connected death pension benefits purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected varicose veins have been rated at 10 percent for the period of July 29, 2008 through July 28, 2009 and from July 29, 2009 through September 8, 2015. Since September 9, 2015, his varicose veins have been rated at 60 percent disabling for each leg. The Board denied the Veteran's claims as there is no evidence to support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected past fibrocystic breast disease is manifested by pain and warrants a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death because there was no evidence establishing that any of the death-causing conditions began in service or were related to service-connected conditions. The new evidence submitted since the September 2009 rating decision is cumulative and does not relate to any of the bases for the prior denial.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for death pension benefits due to her excessive income, which exceeds the maximum payable rate. The appellant was informed of the requirements and provided insufficient documentation.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the Veteran's cancer of the neck and lymph nodes is related to his service-connected prostate cancer, as well as whether it is likely caused by or aggravated by herbicide exposure. The case will be remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA oncologist.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and private medical information from the Veteran. The issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for left fourth and fifth finger disabilities will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal, including the claims for increased disability ratings for residuals of an injury of the right and left lower legs with lymphedema. The Board dismisses these issues.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current eye disability, including iritis and uveitis, is related to his service-connected low back strain with history of ankylosing spondylitis. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right eye disability is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disability in service and ruled that the current condition is not related to service. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.