Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability (pes cavus, metatarsalgia, and hammertoes) is rated at 60 percent combined, reflecting severe impairment in both feet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the Board's November 2016 remand directives. The case must be returned for further development and readjudication.

The Board has granted service connection for right testicular hypogonadism, finding that the presumption of soundness is not rebutted. The claim for left testicular hypogonadism remains pending and will be remanded to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether it is secondary to the Veteran's right testicular condition.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis of the right knee and right elbow is rated at 40 percent, but no higher, prior to January 15, 2013. The Veteran's instability of the right knee is rated at 10 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected digital nerve injury of the left little finger.

The Veteran's right hip disorder is not service-connected as it did not have onset in service, within one year of separation from service, and is not otherwise related to service. The Veteran's scar was granted a compensable rating prior to February 16, 2015, but the Board found that a higher rating is not warranted on or after this date.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he is currently in receipt of the maximum rating available for his service-connected right ilio-inguinal neuralgia, postoperative repair.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to recognize A.P. as her adopted grandson for dependency purposes due to a lack of required documentation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his right leg disability. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge was under conditions other than honorable due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits except for health care.

The case is REMANDED to the AOJ for further development and redetermination of who, if anyone, is entitled to VA recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 30 percent for his chronic skin disability as of August 30, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Restless Leg Syndrome is not related to his service, including an in-service fall. The condition was also found to be a diagnosed disability with a clear and specific etiology and diagnosis for which diagnostic criteria exist.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right foot disabilities do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as they are not representative of severe foot injuries.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and left foot hallux valgus deformity and hammer toes are not service-connected. The claims were denied as there is no persuasive evidence of herbicide exposure during service, which would be required for presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's thoracic strain with arthritis and spondylolisthesis was granted an initial rating of 20 percent effective June 30, 2004. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected thoracic strain.

The Board has granted a separate disability rating of 20 percent for osteomyelitis in the left femur, effective May 17, 2012. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right leg varicose veins are not manifested by persistent edema, subcutaneous induration, stasis pigmentation or eczema, or ulceration. Therefore, the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have visual impairment or incapacitating episodes due to his vitreous floaters, status post-concussion. As such, he is not entitled to a compensable disability rating for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia and malignant neoplasm of the prostate, history of prostatic malignancy, dysplasia of the prostate, carcinoma in situ, and UNC behavior. The evidence does not support a finding of any additional disabilities beyond prostatic hypertrophy with lower urinary tract symptoms.