Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma and actinic keratosis are found to be related to his service, specifically Agent Orange exposure. Service connection is granted.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, respiratory disorder, right shoulder disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, bilateral flat foot, and plantar fasciitis due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for status post gunshot wound, retained foreign body, with ankylosis (previously rated as left knee) has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues regarding left hip extension and flexion, as well as increased rating for left hip adduction.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiomyopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) with arrhythmia, finding that the most probative evidence supports this conclusion.

The Veteran's daughter is not eligible for accrued benefits due to her age and the fact that she was not a child at the time of his death. The appellant can only be reimbursed for expenses related to last sickness and burial, but no other claims are valid.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 20 percent rating for dislocation of the semilunar cartilage of the left knee has been granted. The claims for service connection for right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and left hip strain have been raised but are not currently on appeal. The claim for an increased rating for residuals of fracture of the left patella is remanded due to lack of quantification of additional limitation of motion during flare-ups. The claim for TDIU has also been remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to handle disbursement of funds for VA purposes, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of competency.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right tibia stress fracture residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scanned VistA Imaging records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection is granted.

The Veteran's left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease were granted initial ratings of 20 percent, but not higher, for the periods prior to February 2, 2010. For the period from February 2, 2010 to June 6, 2011, a rating higher than 20 percent was denied for left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease and a 40 percent rating was granted for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease. For the periods from June 7, 2011 and July 15, 2010, ratings of 60 percent were granted for both left and right lower extremity peripheral vascular diseases.

The Veteran was awarded educational assistance at the maximum 100 percent rate under the Post-9/11 GI Bill due to his full-time National Guard service for organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard.

The Board has decided that the overpayment assessment for Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits is invalid and has ordered a remand to obtain missing documentation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that his TDIU claim should be denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents, including for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma to the lymph nodes. The case will be further reviewed by a medical professional to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his claims for Reiter's Syndrome and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left eye blindness is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of his blindness and whether it was caused by VA care.

The case is being remanded due to the need for consideration of new rating criteria and an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of bilateral elbow epicondylitis, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for colostomy residuals condition has been denied.,Service connection for pneumothorax and bacterial infection have both been denied, as the evidence does not support their existence or relation to service.