Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date earlier than April 1, 2011 for adding his wife J.A. as a dependent spouse because the application was received more than one year after their marriage.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the current status of the Veteran's left middle finger and whether it is related to his service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 10 percent for the left leg disability, which is the maximum allowed under the applicable diagnostic code. The condition more nearly approximates severe incomplete paralysis of the external cutaneous nerve of the left thigh.

The Veteran's paresthesia is related to service, specifically his exposure to Gulf War environmental hazards and a history of Lyme disease.

The Veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for a head injury is being remanded due to the need for additional development and an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any current residuals.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right hip disability, which is now considered secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability. The Board also found that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability causes additional impairment of earning capacity involving the right hip.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has current eye disorders and whether any are related to his service. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which he claims was caused by complications from LASIK surgery during service.

The Veteran's left foot tendonitis is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds this rating to be appropriate.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including a VA mental disorders examination.

The Board has determined that further development of the evidence is needed to decide whether the appellant's macular degeneration, diagnosed as blindness, is related to his inservice exposure to radar equipment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a spinal disc rupture due to new and material evidence submitted since the February 2009 rating decision. The case is now remanded for further development, including scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if Claimant's bilateral hip disorder is a congenital disease or defect, and whether it was aggravated in service. The examiner will also assess if there is clear and unmistakable evidence that her pre-existing condition did not worsen during active service.

The Board finds that the overpayment of $6,264.00 for a dependent spouse was properly created and assessed against the Veteran based on his failure to report changes in marital status promptly.

The Veteran's esophageal disorder and left fourth finger injury residuals have been granted service connection, while the initial rating for PTSD has been increased to 30 percent.

The Board has determined that an effective date prior to May 9, 2012, for the addition of the Veteran's dependent spouse E. S. H. to the payment of VA compensation benefits is denied.

The appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits purposes due to a lack of valid marriage, and therefore the claim is denied.

The Veteran's Raynaud's Syndrome of the hands and feet has been granted an initial 20 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye disorder, specifically whether it is related to in-service exposure to gravitational forces from flying high performance aircrafts. The Veteran also needs his service personnel records and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the soft palate should have been considered as filed on December 6, 2012, and an effective date of June 6, 2013 is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his Dupuytren's contracture of the right hand, including whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or peripheral neuropathy.