Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination and further development due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim of cold injury residuals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected bilateral tibia disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease) and acute myeloid leukemia with graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) with dry eyes and skin condition, to include the propriety of the reduction from 100 percent to 0 percent, effective November 1, 2014.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% probability that the Veteran's current right hand disability, including residuals of fracture of the right little finger, is related to his service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for TMJ and assigned a rating of 30 percent, effective as of the date of receipt of the claim to reopen on March 11, 2009. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records and private dental treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected colon cancer. The TDIU claim may also be affected by this development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral interdigital dermatophytosis pedis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7813, and therefore denies his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disk disease of the lumbar spine was increased to a 40 percent rating effective March 6, 2017. The current disability rating is based on his current symptoms and does not exceed what was previously assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a groin disability, also claimed as pain and popping of the bones on both sides of torso and/or arthritis of the torso and groin, is being remanded due to additional development needed. The examiner will provide an addendum opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's groin disability.

The Veteran's status post ileocecal resection for an iatrogenic colon perforation is not considered a qualifying additional disability under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to the unforeseeable nature of the complication and no fault on the part of VA.

The Board found that the Veteran's intermittent atrial arrhythmia was not incurred or aggravated by his periods of active duty, inactive duty training (ACDUTRA), and active duty for training (ADT). Therefore, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's residuals of an orchiopexy for spermatic cord torsion of the right testicle have been characterized by no more than the loss of use and function of both testis since May 2011, warranting a rating of 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 7524.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye disability and blood disorder are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's claimed oral or dental disability, inguinal hernia, and herpes. The conditions are not deemed service-connected.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin rashes and joint pain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma was incurred in or aggravated by active service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the character of the Appellant's discharge is valid for VA purposes, thus not a bar to receiving VA benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral foot disability, including residuals of cold injury to the feet. The examiner will also assess whether such condition had its onset during his combat service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's income and expenses for the period from December 2010, forward. The RO is instructed to obtain updated Eligibility Verification Reports (EVRs) and readjudicate the claim.