Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the claims file is incomplete and additional development is required to obtain missing documents, including a VA Form 21-534 Application for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, Death Pension and Accrued Benefits received in August 2011. The appellant's representative was also asked to provide information regarding private medical records from Kaiser Permanente in Mission Grove, San Diego.

The Board found that the Veteran's basal cell carcinoma was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a ruptured Achilles tendon is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a sleep disorder examination. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current cold injury residuals in his right hand, left hand, and left lower extremity are related to service exposure to cold temperatures. The claims for service connection have been granted.

The Veteran's spouse is seeking an extension of the delimiting date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code. The Board denied this claim as there was no evidence that prevented her from using the benefits prior to August 18, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left foot disability, and for updated VA treatment records. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for hallux rigidus with traumatic arthritis of the left great toe will be readjudicated after all development has been completed.

The Veteran's service is not considered a recognized period of war for the purpose of receiving nonservice-connected death pension benefits, thus denying the claim.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a right foot injury and has determined that there is at least an equipoise of evidence in favor of the Veteran's claim, finding that his current right foot condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for testicular cancer. The Veteran's testicular cancer is found to be related to his military service, with no known clinical disease attributed to it.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the Veteran's thrombocytopenia and lingering colds in service are symptoms or indicators of his splenic marginal zone lymphoma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorders are at least as likely as not related to his active service, particularly to his overexposure to the sun during his tour in Vietnam.

The Board found that the Veteran did not incur any additional disability due to VA care provided from September 2002 to July 2003, including vascular and cardiac testing. The appellant's claims for service connection were denied.

The Veteran's countable annual income, less excludable expenses, has exceeded the maximum annual pension rate for improved pension benefits with special monthly pension due to the need for regular aid and attendance. Therefore, the criteria for entitlement to non-service connected pension benefits are not met.

The Veteran's lichen simplex chronicus has been rated as a noncompensable (0%) disability from October 21, 2008 to March 17, 2014. The Board found that the skin condition affected at least 5% but less than 20% of the total body area and required no more than topical therapy during any 12-month period.

The Veteran's calluses and warts of the feet affect less than 10 percent of his entire body, do not require systemic therapy such as corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for a total duration of six weeks or more but not constantly during a relevant 12-month period. The Board has determined that an initial 10% rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the appellant's constricted peripheral vision is secondary to her service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). The examiner found that the loss of peripheral vision was not caused by or aggravated by the TBI, but rather attributed it to her nonservice-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand. The VA will seek verification from the JSRRC and attempt to obtain any additional pertinent records.

The case is being remanded for additional evidentiary development regarding the Veteran's medical expenses and financial burden related to his service-connected eye disability while incarcerated.