Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum to the April 2014 VA examination opinion, specifically addressing whether the Veteran's congestive heart failure was caused by Agent Orange exposure and/or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II or hypertension.

The Veteran's post-operative left leg varicose vein disability is characterized by persistent edema, incompletely relieved by elevation of the extremity. The Board finds that the criteria for a 20 percent rating have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is more closely approximated by limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level, warranting a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his duodenal ulcer and earlier effective date. The Board finds that additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination, is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.

The appellant is not eligible to receive accrued benefits because the application was not filed within one year after the date of death of the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Board found that the Veteran's right leg injury was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. For hypertension, the rating assigned is not compensable.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection was denied for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The Board found that while there is no direct evidence linking prostate cancer to service, the Veteran's lay statements were not competent evidence to establish a relationship between his current condition and service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not otherwise related to service. The claim for service connection for a skin disorder, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is denied.

The Veteran's postoperative umbilical hernia is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's adjustment disorder more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The Veteran's symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected birdshot wounds of both forearms and hands with retained foreign bodies warrant a 10 percent rating, as they more nearly approximate moderate injuries to Muscle Groups 7 or 9.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by his military service, including secondary to herbicide exposure. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for a VA examination, and he has shown good cause. The case will be returned for further development including scheduling a new examination.

The Board denied service connection for a gait and balance disorder, finding that it is not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service, and is not proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his bilateral eye disability was denied. The Veteran is currently seeking service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen her claim for service connection for a gynecological disability and has determined that there is an equipoise of evidence in favor of the claim, thus granting service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran's right 4th metacarpal disability is a continuation of his service-connected right 5th metacarpal disability or if it was caused by that condition.

The Veteran does not have a bilateral foot disability that is service-connected.,There is no evidence of chronic prostatitis or epididymitis in service, and the current genitourinary conditions are not linked to service.

The Board found insufficient evidence to establish that the Veteran's current back disability was incurred or aggravated during his active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymic disorder does not render him unemployable, and the Board finds that his employment difficulties are primarily due to non-service connected social anxiety and personality disorders.