Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current left eardrum disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant had active or inactive duty points in each of six consecutive years in the Air Force Reserve and received an honorable discharge, thus granting his basic eligibility for home loan guaranty benefits.

The Veteran died while hospitalized at a VA medical facility and the appellant bore all costs related to his burial. The Board finds that reimbursement of these expenses is warranted as it meets the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD and depression, to include unspecified trauma related disorder and mood disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and a supplemental opinion regarding his mood disorder secondary to obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for Guillain-Barre Syndrome prior to January 23, 2014, and a compensable rating as of that date is dismissed due to the withdrawal of the issue by his representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability. The primary site of his cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, is not related to military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity is found to be related to his exposure to herbicides in service, and thus service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for post traumatic arthritis of the 4th and 5th MP joints of the right hand, finding that new evidence submitted by the Veteran relates to an unestablished fact necessary to reopen the claim. However, the Board also found that there is no medical evidence linking this current disability to service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining clarification from a VA physician and an advisory medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of right foot stress fracture or residuals, and the Board finds that his service connection claim for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining missing VA treatment records and examination reports. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral vascular disease will be reconsidered.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of any service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's myasthenia gravis. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also before the Board due to its connection with the initial rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA medical examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right hip strain and determine prior range of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's right little finger disability, including her surgical scar, did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent due to limited functional impairment and lack of ankylosis or other compensatory factors.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for additional accrued VA benefits, finding that the Veteran's surviving spouse's estate is not entitled to the remaining $311.00 due to her death before receiving the benefit.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran has any disability manifested by numbness of the toes, and to provide an opinion on its etiology. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a need to review a February 2017 VA examination report and address other issues on appeal, including the evaluation of the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left inguinal hernia had its onset during service and is etiologically related to his service, thus granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's spine disability was rated at 40 percent effective July 1, 2008. The rating is based on the criteria for a spinal condition with forward flexion of 15 degrees and no ankylosis.