Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board found no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by dyspnea of the internal organs and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for MDS was denied as there is no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active service, including Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's PTSD was found to have resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant had no service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including in recognized guerrilla forces, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, he is not eligible for payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a chronic disability manifested by respiratory damage, including as secondary to obstructive hydrocephalus. The decision found that there was no evidence linking the current respiratory disability to service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability determination records. The appellant's claim will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected survivor's pension benefits on and after January 1, 2010 due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Veteran's lung disorder is found to be due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Service connection is granted for the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a spleen disorder and an initial disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder and polysubstance dependence, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no indication that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable.

The Board finds that the appellant's left eye disabilities, including left iris atrophy, surgical pupil ectopia, pupil enlargement, and left upper eyelid ptosis, were caused by VA treatment in March and April 2010. The proximate cause of these additional disabilities was an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Veteran's post-phlebitic syndrome has not met the criteria for a higher rating, and his GSW residuals have not warranted a schedular rating in excess of 40 percent.,Throughout the appeal period, the Veteran's service-connected left thigh GSW residuals did not meet the criteria for any higher schedular ratings. The TDIU claim was also denied as his disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board finds that the Veteran's claimed left great toe injuries and related conditions were not incurred in service or are not otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease of the left hand is not caused by or related to his in-service injury, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's pre-existing duodenal ulcer disease existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service, thus denying service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of cold weather injury to his lower extremities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiac condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim. The current heart-related diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection as they are known clinical conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for spondylothesis and degenerative joint disease, L4-L5.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's preexisting gout was aggravated during his active duty service from November 2009 through December 2010, and he is now entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's countable income exceeded the maximum limits allowed for nonservice-connected death pension benefits from January 1, 2010 to September 20, 2013, and therefore denied her claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of increased rating for depressive reactive disorder and TDIU are also being remanded.