Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's right second toe disability is manifested by pain and near fusion of the distal interphalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints. The Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted due to moderate impairment.

The Veteran's skin disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of a current disability related to herbicide exposure during service. The VA examiner found the Veteran's claimed skin disabilities are not related to his active duty.

An earlier effective date of February 18, 2012 is granted for the award of a 20 percent rating for recurrent bilateral inguinal hernia. The claim of service connection for leukemia remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding his stomach condition and the need for a new VA examination.

The appellant's representative withdrew the appeal regarding the discontinuance of death pension benefits effective January 1, 2011.

The Veteran's urticaria was granted a 10 percent rating, effective September 1, 1999. The Board found that the Veteran experienced recurrent episodes of urticaria at least four times during the past 12-month period that responded to treatment with antihistamines and thus warranted a 10 percent rating.

The Board denied service connection for a balance disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were not related to his active duty service or service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board denied service connection for colon cancer, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or illness related to the condition and noting that there is no positive association between exposure to herbicides and colorectal cancer.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral Achilles tendon disorders and their relationship to his service-connected lumbar myositis.

The Board denied the appeal to terminate the $100.00 per month apportionment on behalf of the Appellant, stating that since her divorce from the Veteran was final in December 2012, the apportionment must be terminated as a matter of law.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and therefore he did not meet the criteria for a plot or interment allowance as his remains were cremated.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 13, 2012, for the grant of service connection for a back disability is denied as there was no formal or informal claim before that date.

Your TDIU benefits have already been granted, so your new appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service records are missing and requests for his military personnel file, service-treatment records, and death certificate have been made. The decision is remanded to obtain these records.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disorder, including macular degeneration and blindness, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to his in-service exposure to carbon monoxide. The evidence did not establish a link between the Veteran's macular degeneration and his service.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for additional compensation for his current dependent spouse and a dependent child based on school attendance, finding that information about these events was first received by VA in September 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a nerve disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease and no relationship to service, including herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's current nerve disability is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for varicose veins and popliteal aneurysm and arteriovenous (AV) fistula of the right leg with residual scar is being remanded. The current evaluations are appropriate, but the criteria for a higher evaluation have not been met or approximated at any time during the appeal period.

The Board denied the appellants' claim for accrued benefits in excess of $8,238 because they did not provide proof that they bore additional costs for the Veteran's final illness and burial.

The Board has granted service connection for lymphedema in the right lower extremity and remanded the issue of service connection for sterility.