Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's entire period of active service from July 19, 2006 to May 18, 2012 is not considered creditable for purposes of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits due to her enrollment in the Loan Repayment Program (LRP). As a result, she cannot be awarded full benefits.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's mild impairment of swallowing and resolved weakness of the right upper and lower extremities are directly related to his stroke in May 2009, which occurred after he left against medical advice from VA treatment. The Board found that VA did not cause or foresee this event.

The Veteran's urinary and fecal incontinence are found to be secondary to his service-connected nerve damage. His left foot Achilles tendon condition is found to have been aggravated by service. The Veteran is granted TDIU effective October 25, 2013.

The Board found that the debt was not properly created due to administrative error, but also noted that the Veteran had reason to believe he provided all necessary information. The overpayment issue is considered moot as the claim for waiver of recovery has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's skin disabilities are not presumed to be associated with exposure to herbicide agents, and the evidence is against a finding that his skin disabilities are otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was denied. The current disability rating of 20 percent is maintained.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for basal cell carcinoma has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for the merits of the case.

The Board found no evidence to support the claim that the Veteran's current right hip disability, including avascular necrosis of the right femoral head and degenerative joint disease, was incurred in or is otherwise etiologically related to service. The claims were denied.

The VA examiner found no evidence of a current skin disorder and concluded that the Veteran's rash is less likely than not incurred in or caused by his military service, including presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran died from an unrelated cause and was not receiving VA benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, he is ineligible for VA burial benefits.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the claimant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right breast hypertrophic nodule is related to her service, and thus granted service connection for this condition. The issue of chronic vaginal disability remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran is seeking a compensable disability rating for his service-connected right anterior tibia injury with residual slight anterior mid-tibial bowing likely representing an old fracture. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records, conduct a VA examination, and address the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disabilities, including myopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia, are not service-connected as they are considered congenital defects rather than diseases or injuries incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disorder, which includes symptoms such as alternating diarrhea and constipation with more or less constant abdominal distress, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has now granted a higher rating of 30 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher initial disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's urinary disorder, claimed as poituria, is not related to his active duty service or any service-connected disabilities. For xerosis cutis, the Board determined that a compensable rating was not warranted given the extent of affected skin area and treatment required. Regarding migraine and tension headaches, the Board concluded that a higher initial disability rating prior to August 25, 2016, and a current 30 percent rating were not supported by evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability evaluation for chronic liver disease and service connection for fatigue, finding that fatigue is not a distinct disability but rather a symptom of his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran seeks reimbursement or payment for medical expenses incurred at Southeast Colorado Hospital from December 2 to December 22, 2015. The case is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for a VA opinion regarding whether the treatment was authorized in advance and if it met the criteria for emergency treatment.