Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cold injury residuals of his hands and feet, as well as a compensable rating for Raynaud's syndrome without gangrene. The Veteran was also denied service connection for dermatitis.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance of another person was denied because he failed to report for a necessary VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow disorder, diagnosed as lateral epicondylitis, is at least as likely as not incurred during her active service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for systemic lupus erythematosus is granted, with the Board finding that it had its onset during active duty.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of lipomas or soft tissue sarcomas, and there is no evidence to support a direct service connection for these conditions. The Board also notes that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification of the appellant's service from the Department of the Army, and the claim is now pending again for further action.

The Veteran's son, the appellant, requested accrued benefits for his mother who had passed away. The VA denied the claim as the appellant did not meet the eligibility criteria for accrued benefits.

The Veteran's reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right lower extremity has been rated at 40 percent since April 21, 2017. The polymorphic light eruption syndrome remains unassigned.

The Board found that the Veteran did not submit a formal or informal claim for non-service connected pension benefits prior to April 28, 2009. The effective date of the award is therefore set at April 28, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case back to the AOJ for consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to June 10, 2008. The Veteran's claim must be readjudicated after referral.

The Board found that the Veteran's B-cell lymphoma is not causally related to his active service, including exposure to fuels and radar radiation. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a specific opinion from the examiner regarding the current nature and severity of his service-connected left great toe nail deformity.

The Veteran's skin condition and night sweats are granted service connection as they were first manifested during his Gulf War service. The Board found that the Veteran had objective indications of chronic disability, specifically for a skin condition due to exposure in the Gulf War theater.

The Board found that the Veteran's right testicle is not absent or non-functioning, and thus denied an initial compensable rating for left orchiectomy.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent since September 3, 2015. The highest rating available for limitation of flexion is 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome of the bilateral knees is manifested by, at worst, complaints of daily bilateral knee pain, flexion limited to 100 degrees on repetitive testing in the right knee, flexion limited to 110 degrees on repetitive testing in the left knee, extension limited to zero degrees on repetitive testing in each knee, and normal bilateral knee x-rays throughout the appeal period. The Board finds that the criteria for initial ratings greater than 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee have not been met.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion regarding whether the congenital ichthyosis preexisted service and was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's pituitary macroadenoma is not related to service, as there are no records of immediate medical consequences from exposure to fire and byproducts of combustion. The lipomas developed shortly after discharge from service.,Service connection for the lipomas is granted based on their onset within six months of discharge and credible reports of multiple chemical-service-related exposures.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for right iliotibial band syndrome prior to February 8, 2016, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter was denied by the Board. The evidence did not show that the Veteran had flexion limited to less than 125 degrees or instability in his knee.

The Board has determined that the Appellant does not qualify as a proper claimant for the requested benefits due to her age and lack of evidence establishing she was permanently incapable of self-support before the age of 18. As such, further consideration of the merits of her claims is rendered moot.