Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board found no current left hip or groin disability and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lactose intolerance and its relationship to her military service, including exposure to environmental hazards during the Persian Gulf War.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, including broken bones as a result of in-service exposure to herbicide agents, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The AOJ must obtain records from his time in the U.S. Army Reserves and schedule him for a VA examination to determine if any bilateral foot disorder had its clinical onset during service or is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's in-service symptoms and his current heart condition.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran is granted service connection for CAD, stable angina, cardiomyopathy, and CABG effective September 30, 2015. The Board also grants a TDIU prior to September 30, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and needs to address whether the current appellant is entitled to accrued benefits or substitution as his mother's widow, and then adjudicate the underlying issue of an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected death pension benefits with aid and attendance.

The Veteran's lumbago disability was rated at 20 percent prior to June 18, 2008 and remained at 20 percent from June 18, 2008 to October 19, 2013. During this period, the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the schedular rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected chronic epididymitis does not present an exceptional or unusual disability picture as to warrant a higher rating on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's current bladder and urinary disorder did not manifest during service or is otherwise unrelated to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board finds no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty.

The Veteran's urethral stricture disability was granted an increased rating of 20 percent from November 16, 2015 to April 19, 2017. As of April 20, 2017, the disability was rated at 40 percent due to urinary leakage requiring absorbent materials changed two to four times per day.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for reimbursement of expenses related to her father's last sickness and burial, as well as her claim for service connection for cause of death. The decision found that she did not meet eligibility criteria for these benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's rectal cancer was not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The medical opinions provided do not support a link between the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and his rectal cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for myelodysplastic syndrome and anemia, which was previously denied. The Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has restored a 100% disability rating for Hodgkin's disease from December 1, 2011 to September 7, 2015 due to the inadequacy of the April 2009 VA examination used as the basis for reducing the Veteran's rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected back disability and additional records. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obesity and chronic arthritis of the lower extremities, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a current disability or link to service. The claim for bowel incontinence was not addressed due to procedural issues.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the appellant was in receipt of the earliest effective date available due to a court order identifying her as the surviving spouse.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of whether an overpayment of educational benefits for books and supplies in the amount of $301.57 was properly created, and if so, whether a waiver of recovery is warranted based on equity and good conscience.