Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left elbow disabilities are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and his right hallux rigidus with hammertoes is rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran has ankylosis of the right ankle.,The Veteran's right hallux rigidus with hammertoes is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a skin examination.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 12, 2011 for service connection of left distal fibular fracture residuals. The issue of a higher initial rating and the spouse's compensation claim are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a stroke and right eye disability, including as secondary to the claimed stroke, due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right hand disabilities due to lack of evidence showing current or chronic conditions.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits because her marriage to the Veteran did not meet the required 15-year or one-year marriage date requirements prior to his death, despite living together continuously.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral pulmonary interstitial fibrosis is etiologically related to asbestos exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for shrapnel injuries to the face and side, as well as vitiligo, are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further medical opinions regarding the cause of death and the impact of heart conditions on the ability to receive a liver resection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is directly related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for SVT.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left foot disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disability to his active service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection due to the complexity of the medical problem and the need for an independent medical expert opinion regarding whether the Veteran's compromised immune system condition with recurrent Klebsiella infection is related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for insomnia, as secondary to her service-connected sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran must be provided with a new VA examination to determine if she has a current diagnosis of insomnia and whether it is related to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension limit, and thus she is not legally entitled to these benefits.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection issues were decided.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings for his right and left heel disabilities, as well as his left and right ankle disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability in any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and consideration of the Veteran's reported symptoms, including shortness of breath during service and since his separation. The claim will be reconsidered with a new VA examination.