Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis and epididymitis have been rated, but the claims for higher evaluations are denied.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's TMJ dysfunction is as likely as not incurred in service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a grant of an increased rating for amputation of right ring finger, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that entitlement to the 10 percent rating ever arose.

The Veteran's appeal as to the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral Achilles tendonitis has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is attributable to or related to service, and the Board has granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral groin disabilities have been granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent each, effective from the entire initial rating period on appeal.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for neck cancer and found new and material evidence. However, it denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as there was no showing of early onset or chronicity within one year after presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for colitis and Crohn's disease, but denied the claim as there is no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge for his active duty from March 1990 to April 1992 is a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hodgkin's lymphoma is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral foot condition he asserts resulted from cold injuries sustained during service in Korea. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied previously due to her not meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU. However, with the recent increase in her service-connected right leg and foot phlebitis rating, she now meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU effective September 19, 2016.

The Veteran's skin disability (shingles) is not shown to be causally related or aggravated by her service-connected thyroid disability, and the Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran and the Appellant were spouses who cohabitated through October 31, 2011. The Veteran terminated the Appellant's access to his VA benefits in December 2011, including those paid for dependents.,J.B., born on November [REDACTED], 2007, is a biological child of the Veteran and the Appellant. The preponderance of evidence supports that the Veteran has not reasonably discharged his responsibility for J.B.'s support since December 1, 2011.,D.P., T.P., and D.P. ceased being the Veteran's stepchildren for VA purposes on November 1, 2011. The preponderance of evidence supports that they have not been eligible for support from the Veteran since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected fractures and lacerations, finding that they did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under applicable rating criteria.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical and administrative records, provide an opinion on the cause of death, and ensure that all duty-to-assist requirements are met.

The Veteran's service-connected tonsillectomy does not result in any current residuals or complications, and therefore a compensable rating is not warranted.