Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for readjudication of her claims regarding initial disability ratings for genital herpes. She will be provided with an SOC if the determination remains adverse.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion and instability, has been rated at 10 percent since January 1, 2011. The current rating is appropriate given the limitation of flexion to 140 degrees and extension that is normal.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the bilateral feet, finding that new evidence supports the reopening of the claim and establishing service connection based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye disorder is not related to his service or secondary to his service-connected left eye disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected intervertebral disc disease and cauda equina syndrome have been rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for these conditions, nor are he entitled to separate ratings for his neurogenic bowel condition or neurogenic bladder condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a prostate disability related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial disability rating for status post saphenous vein harvesting from the left leg with muscle pain and weakness has been denied by the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's neurological disabilities of the right and left upper extremities are found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's bilateral TMJ disorder has been characterized by frequent dislocations, locking of the jaw creating an abnormal range of motion, functional loss due to pain, fatigue and weakness. The Board finds that a 40 percent rating is appropriate for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective July 31, 2009. The Veteran's claim was remanded multiple times due to issues with the effective date and income verification.

The claim for TDIU has been remanded due to the inability to locate a 2014 stress test referenced by the December 2016 VA examiner. The Veteran is required to provide any outstanding private treatment records and the AOJ will re-adjudicate the claim after obtaining these records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder manifested by anxiety and psychosis, to include as being secondary to an in-service harassment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow disability existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The appellant is entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the surviving spouse's last illness (up to but not to exceed the total amount of accrued benefit owed but unpaid to the surviving spouse).

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, as he did not have a total disability rating for at least 10 years prior to his death. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's pineal gland cystic tumor was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or as a result of service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's pericarditis has been rated at 30 percent since July 18, 2012 and at 60 percent thereafter. The costochondritis is rated separately at 10 percent.

The Board granted an initial 70 percent rating for dysthymic disorder, effective October 31, 2008, and awarded a TDIU effective date of December 30, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new VA examination to address the Veteran's right shoulder disability. The appeal is currently in a pending status.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of transitional cell bladder carcinoma, status post transurethral resection were rated at 40 percent effective June 21, 2016. The appeal for higher evaluations was denied.