Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran's current foot and hernia disabilities are related to service, including whether they were aggravated by service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for intervertebral disc syndrome.

The Veteran's bilateral hip strain is connected to service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is granted, as he was entitled to benefits from the date of his first surgery (March 5, 2005) due to VA's failure to inform him of Dr. Franchini's negligence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and considering whether he was exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to his service-connected knee and toe disabilities. As such, the claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA addendum opinion and additional treatment records.

The Veteran's medical expenses at Euclid Hospital were reimbursed as the treatment was for a condition that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed, and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), recurrent sinus infections, recurrent ear infections, and shingles as secondary to CLL. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection or any other form of presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 12, 2015 at a private medical facility was denied as the treatment did not meet all criteria required under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right upper lobectomy have been evaluated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate based on his post-bronchodilator FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC results.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral lower leg disorder, including arthritis and weakened bones, due to in-service herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability or a causal connection between the claimed conditions and active duty.

The Veteran's claim for vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits has been remanded due to the receipt of additional VA medical records since the last statement of the case was issued in October 2013.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) has been denied as his current diagnosed conditions are not related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for a coccyx injury due to insufficient evidence and need for further development, including an examination.

The Veteran's claim for medical reimbursement at Park City Medical Center on October 7, 2015 is being remanded due to missing procedural records and non-existent treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout and prostate disorder are not related to his service-connected duodenal ulcer, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability of tremors, and there is no evidence linking his tremors to service or any presumptive exposure. The Board also found that the tremors are not secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease.