Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection for missing front teeth and increased ratings for left wrist disability were denied. The claim for service connection was reopened on new evidence, but the Board found no basis to grant compensation due to lack of bone loss in maxilla or mandible.

The Veteran's residuals of an old healed stress fracture of the right femur were found to have mild hip and knee disability prior to July 7, 2016. The current rating of 10% is appropriate given the findings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD (agoraphobia with panic attacks), is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral patellofemoral pain is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar myofascial pain syndrome, with lumbar facet syndrome. The current rating for the lumbar condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Barrett's esophagitis with postoperative adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is due to his military service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's dry eye and cataracts are related to his military service. The claim will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's lower intestinal disorder, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is not causally or etiologically related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of July 16, 2012, for DEA Chapter 35 benefits due to a lack of timely election within the specified 60-day period.

The Board has granted service connection for gastric adenocarcinoma and the cause of death due to gastric cancer, attributing these findings to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's service connection claims for sinus disability and residuals of a nose injury, as the current evidence does not provide sufficient information regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran does not have a service-connected disability, and therefore the appellant is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from service was under other than honorable conditions due to his acceptance of an undesirable discharge to escape trial by court-martial, and thus, it is a bar to eligibility for VA compensation benefits.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's jaw condition, which included periodic swelling and subjective complaints of pain and difficulty chewing, did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and further examination is required.

The VA has determined that the Veteran's hallux valgus/rigidus of both feet is currently assigned the maximum disability rating authorized under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5280. Therefore, an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for each foot is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral Achilles tendon disorders did not manifest during or as a result of active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable extraschedular rating for his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the fifth metacarpal joint of the right hand little finger was denied. The Board found that the symptoms were contemplated by the existing rating schedule and did not warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected neurogenic bladder disability causes an extraschedular impairment of average earning capacity that is equivalent to total impairment, and the Board has granted a 100 percent rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a DRO hearing.