Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision, effectively dismissing the case.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected residuals of fracture to right tibia and fibula is being remanded due to the need to obtain outstanding VA medical records and conduct a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and clarification of diagnoses, as well as an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disease is related to service, including presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's skin disorder was incurred during his active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's esophagus disability is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his PTSD and bilateral knee disabilities. The medications he takes for these conditions can worsen his reflux symptoms but do not cause them.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative intervertebral disk disease at the L1-2 and L4-5 level is not shown to have been productive of limitation of motion or functional loss due to pain that would warrant a higher rating. The current 20% evaluation remains appropriate.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's current eye disorders and their relationship to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues before the Board, including service connection for conjunctivitis and retinitis, a higher rating for major depression with PTSD, a higher rating for lumbar arthritis and disc disease, and a compensable rating for cortical cataracts.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records from June 2011 to the present. The claim will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and verification of active duty service in the Marine Corps Reserve. The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits remains pending.

The Board found no evidence of a low back disorder or left foot disorder that manifested in service or within one year thereafter, and concluded that any current conditions are not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's medical expenses for treatment at Seven Rivers Regional Medical Center from March 19, 2010 to March 23, 2010 are granted as the VAMC did not have a feasible option to transfer him and he was stable by that date.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder is found to be at least partly caused by his chronic alcohol use, which in turn is the result of his service-connected anxiety disorder that was previously evaluated as depression. Therefore, he is granted service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inadequate VA examination and because of conflicting evidence regarding the continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's skin disorder is not shown to have had its clinical onset during service or otherwise be related to service. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinion that the hypertension was not caused by diabetes mellitus, a service-connected disability, to be more probative than the Veteran's lay assertions.

The Veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension, including special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound was denied due to excessive income. The Veteran has not provided medical expense reports as requested by VA.

The Board finds that the Veteran's aortic regurgitation is likely due to his service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the July 2012 decision dismissing the Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia and restless leg syndrome was erroneous due to failure to consider relevant case law, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand disability is being granted an increased rating to 10 percent, effective from the date of the April 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound is remanded due to a lack of recent medical evidence. The case will be readjudicated after additional development, including an examination.