Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's overpayment of $9,170.00 in VA disability compensation benefits was denied as the debt was properly created and assessed against him due to his concurrent receipt of AGR pay and VA compensation.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a skin disorder that he attributes to exposure to Agent Orange herbicides in Vietnam. The case is remanded due to the need to obtain updated VA treatment records from Maplewood and Minneapolis VAMCs since August 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected left shoulder disability was denied. The maximum schedular rating based on limitation of motion is assigned.

The Board found that the appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, thus denying her entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board found no evidence of radiation exposure or other service connection criteria met, thus denying the Veteran's claims for small cell lymphocytic lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for poliomyelitis, claimed also as Guillain-Barre syndrome, is being remanded due to the unavailability of his service treatment records from a field hospital in Luzon, Philippines. The AOJ must search for and attempt to obtain these records.

The Board has ordered the RO to provide a letter explaining what medical expenses may be considered in determining the Veteran's income for 2006 and to inform the appellant of which expenses were included in the calculation. The case will then be readjudicated based on this information.

The Veteran's current respiratory complaints are not due to service and are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected GERD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a hiatal hernia, finding no competent and credible evidence linking his current condition to his period of active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's post-phlebitic syndrome of the left lower extremity has been rated at 40 percent since August 29, 2007. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service does not meet the criteria for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of wartime service. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected right knee disability was denied. The current assigned schedular disability rating of 20 percent is considered adequate, and there is no evidence of exceptional or unusual disability.

The Veteran's gouty arthritis of the feet is currently rated at 20 percent prior to June 23, 2010. The Board found that his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as he did not demonstrate definite impairment of health or severely incapacitating exacerbations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The TDIU claim remains inextricably intertwined with the service connection claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lower extremity symptoms and considering additional lay evidence provided after the November 2010 VA examination.

The Veteran's eye problems, including cataracts in both eyes and periorbital edema of the right eye, have not been shown to be at least as likely as not causally related to his active service. The Veteran's estropia (strabismus) in the left eye was noted on clinical examination at the time of service entrance and has a history dating back to childhood. His arthritis involving the right hand, right hip, right great toe metacarpophalangeal joint, and cervical spine, was initially demonstrated many years after service.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of VA compensation benefits for a dependent spouse in the amount of $1,652 was validly created.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain clarification of his eye field vision test results, request Social Security Administration records, and consider the issue of TDIU due to his service-connected left eye disability.

The Veteran's heart condition, specifically right bundle branch block with mitral valve prolapse and trace mitral regurgitation, was rated at 60 percent effective February 9, 2012. The rating is based on the current level of disability as determined by METs values and LVEF.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for neurological disabilities of the hands and feet have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The VA examiner found no neurological findings in the Veteran's hands or feet.