Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to overpayment of VA education benefits and whether the appellant is entitled to a waiver of recovery. The AOJ must obtain updated financial information from the appellant, as well as any disability benefit records from Social Security Administration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's alcohol and drug dependence is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and therefore denied the claim of entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied an effective date prior to July 31, 2012 for a TDIU due to the Veteran's service-connected spondylolisthesis. The Veteran did not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and was considered unemployable based on his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for prostatitis is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and possibly Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current low back disorder, tinnitus, or bilateral hearing loss related to service. The claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosed TBI.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining verification of notice sent to the Veteran's last known address.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner and considering a September 2016 letter from Dr. A.B.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional records from SSA and VA. The Veteran's TDIU claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Veteran's respiratory disability is found to have become manifest during service, and the Board grants service connection for a respiratory disability. The aneurysm residuals are rated at 10 percent since February 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete opinions and new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease L5-S1 is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to reflect his current disability level.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of larynx cancer did not meet the criteria for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent from April 1, 2014. The service-connected nervous twitch was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding records and a need for medical opinions regarding the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's current basal cell carcinoma is related to in-service sun exposure and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted a waiver of the overpayment of $3,073.00 in compensation benefits due to significant financial hardship and undue hardship resulting from continued collection.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 8, 2012 for service connection of residuals of cold injury of bilateral hands and feet is granted. The earliest possible effective date is February 10, 1999.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection of left hip arthritis and right hip arthritis, and as such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review these matters.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder, diagnosed as arthritis and snapping hip syndrome, was incurred in active service.

The Veteran's current right eye disorder, diagnosed as ocular histoplasmosis syndrome, is etiologically related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal cancer is not related to his in-service duties and therefore denied service connection.