Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and a need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral leg and foot disorder is pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left and right knees have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a nonservice-connected death pension due to her income and net worth exceeding the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR). The appellant's countable income was $28,158 per year from Social Security and dividends/interest, which is above the MAPR. Her net worth of over $200,000 also prevented her from qualifying for a nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current left arm disability and whether it is related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's death was not eligible for DIC benefits because he did not meet the criteria for total disability rating, and his case is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for drug abuse and lichen planus have been denied as there is no current evidence of a drug abuse disorder or lichen planus, respectively. The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection in either case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 20, 2008 for entitlement to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The decision found that no factually ascertainable increase in disability occurred during the year prior to the receipt of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's chronic blepharoconjunctivitis was restored to a 10% rating, and his posttraumatic arthritis claim is granted. The arthritis is not presumed due to ionizing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's muscle and joint pain is not related to his period of active service.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosed stomach condition, and any existing unspecified stomach condition did not manifest in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an irritable colon syndrome, now claimed as a stomach condition, was previously denied in 1991 and has not been reopened with new and material evidence. The Board found that the Veteran did not submit sufficient new and material evidence to reopen this claim.,Service connection for a neck condition is also denied. The Veteran reported experiencing symptoms during service but no such diagnoses were made at separation. There is insufficient evidence linking his current neck disability to his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an eye disorder will be reconsidered after this process.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostatitis and granted it, finding that there is a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim based on evidence showing that his current prostatitis condition was more likely than not due to his multiple prostate infections during service.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left foot arthritis are being considered. The Board finds new and material evidence has been submitted, but the relationship between current disabilities and service is unclear.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling an eye examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as they have no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for calcified pleural plaques is not warranted, as there was no actual improvement in his condition. The Veteran's current FVC and DLCO (SB) results do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The appellant's claim for accrued benefits was denied as her application was not filed within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the Veteran's left foot drop and leg swelling were not caused by VA treatment, but rather due to his non-compliance with medical advice following his March 2012 total knee replacement.