Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected recurrent skin rash of unknown etiology with furunculosis was found to not affect at least five percent of his total body or exposed areas, and no topical therapy has been required. Therefore, the claim for an initial compensable rating is denied.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date of March 13, 2010 for the grant of Total Disability Rating Independent of Service Connection (TDIU) because no factually ascertainable increase in disability occurred within one year prior to December 15, 2011.

The Veteran's contracture deformity of the right fifth finger has not been found to be severe enough to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease, right and left knee was granted with an effective date of December 20, 1999.

The Veteran's back surgery required six weeks of recovery time with limited duty status for up to six months. The Board denied a temporary total disability evaluation beyond the initial period due to insufficient evidence supporting extended convalescence.

The Veteran's left thumb disability is being remanded for further evaluation and updated treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left hand and arm conditions, as there is no controversy or justiciable issue currently before the Board. The claims are dismissed due to the absence of a controversy at issue.

The Veteran's death was caused by ALS, which is presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death based on this presumption.

Service connection for blurred vision is denied.,Initial compensable disability ratings (20%) are granted for hallux valgus in both feet.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lupus began during active service and granted his claim for service connection.

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

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for an enlarged prostate. The claims for service connection for arthritis and monoclonal gammopathy of undermined significance (MBUS), claimed as multiple myeloma, are remanded.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not provide evidence of a pending claim for compensation or pension benefits at the time of his death. The Board denied the claim as there were no circumstances that warranted payment of nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits was dismissed as moot because the appellant received the maximum amount of $300 in benefits, which resolved the issue.

The Board has determined that a VA medical opinion is needed to address the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether it was due to his presumed exposure to herbicidal agents during service. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's surviving spouse seeks recognition as the Veteran’s surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to DIC and death pension benefits, but the Board finds that she does not meet the criteria due to her legal marriage occurring two-and-a-half months before his death.,The appellant also seeks accrued benefits, but there are no open claims at the time of the Veteran's death, so the claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right big toe disability, including during flare-ups and after repeated use over time. Updated VA treatment records are also needed.

The Veteran's left lower extremity varicose veins are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected acute, subacute, or old myocardial infarction was granted effective July 17, 2015 due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The condition is presumed related to this exposure.