Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's right shoulder disability, at worst, is manifested by pain that functionally limits right arm motion to midway between side and shoulder level. The criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met or approximated.

The Veteran's hairy cell leukemia and sinus conditions were not caused or aggravated by in-service asbestos exposure, and are therefore denied.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no conclusive proof of in-country service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected residuals of ulcerative colitis, to include colon resection, prior to May 1, 2015.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye disability, including detached retina, amblyopia, and strabismus with only light vision, pre-existed military service. The VA examiner found no evidence of worsening during service and concluded that the current right eye cataracts are not related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anatomical loss of his right eye, secondary to malaria, and an initial compensable rating for service-connected malaria.

The Board finds that the evidence is against a finding of a current skin rash disability for service connection purposes and denies the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his postoperative patellar transplant and subsequent total arthroplasty, resulted in a 30% rating since February 1, 2014. The Board found that the Veteran's flexion was limited to 5 degrees at most during this period.

The Veteran's esophagus disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining cervical spine imaging and a VA examination to determine if the condition is related to his service-connected cervical spine fusion.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnoses of Epstein-Barr virus and eye disorder are not related to his service, including exposure to radiation. The evidence did not show these disabilities were incurred in or caused by service.,Service connection for both conditions was denied as they do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on radiation exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of entitlement to service connection for a pulmonary disease.

The Veteran died from congestive cardiac failure following a heart transplant in 1987. The VA did not find any evidence of carelessness, negligence or other fault on their part.

The Veteran's special monthly pension benefits based on the need for regular aid and attendance were initially determined in July 2008. The appellant is seeking accrued benefits due to her spouse's death, but there was a dispute over whether she could be substituted as the claimant.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral vascular disease.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, as the claim is no longer valid.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of convulsive disorder, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the October 1976 rating decision. The earliest possible effective date is September 26, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to outstanding VA medical records and the need for a TDIU evaluation. The case will be reviewed again after these additional actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for hydronephrosis as secondary to his prostate cancer and for a higher rating for his prostate cancer have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his attorney.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for liver disease and a higher rating for urethral calculus has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have evidence to support his claims of direct service connection or secondary service connection, and there was no indication that his current conditions were related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for bilateral hand tendonitis.