Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran timely filed a notice of disagreement (NOD) with the November 2005 rating decision denying service connection for left transfemoral amputation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and his appeal is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic arthritis of the thoracic spine is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his current range of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, and subsequent cerebrovascular accident were likely caused by taking Acitretin/Soriatane prescribed by VA. The decision grants compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emphysema is service connected as secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for an overpayment of $3,000 in education benefits due to the Veteran's financial hardship and undue hardship resulting from repayment.

The Board finds, after resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, that the evidence is at least in a state of relative equipoise on all material elements of the claim. Accordingly, service connection is granted for residuals of left hand injury, manifested by neuroma with loss of sensation in the left middle and ring fingers.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that they warranted a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion.

The Veteran's laryngitis was restored to a 30 percent rating from December 1, 2010 to September 11, 2012. The issue of an increased rating for squamous cell carcinoma remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for a left eye disability and an increased rating for the right eye disability are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's right-sided neck mass, which was initially believed to be a new carotid sheath tumor, turned out to be a recurrence of his Burkitt's lymphoma. The Board finds that the treatment for this condition met the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 due to it being an emergent condition.

The Board found no credible evidence of in-service manifestations or injuries related to sickle cell anemia, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection for a lung condition could be decided as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have a diagnosed disability of the left thumb. The claim for service connection for a left thumb disorder is denied.

The Board found that the termination of the appellant's death pension benefits was not proper and restored those benefits, resolving doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Board found no credible evidence of a right leg fracture during service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neurological condition of the bilateral upper and lower extremities was not incurred during service, as there is no evidence of a chronic disability present within one year post-service. The VA examiner concluded that the condition is less likely than not related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart murmur was not shown to have had its onset during service and did not find a causal relationship between his service-connected hypertension and his current heart murmur. As a result, the claim for service connection for a heart murmur is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of overpayment of death pension benefits, finding that it would not be against equity and good conscience to require her to repay the $4,407.33 debt.

The Veteran's tonsillectomy was not shown to have any objective evidence of hoarseness with inflammation of cords or mucous membrane, and the clinical findings did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating prior to April 2, 2009. From April 2, 2009 to February 28, 2011, the Veteran's tonsillectomy was manifested primarily by hoarseness without thickening or nodules of cords, polyps, submucous infiltration, or pre-malignant changes. Beginning February 28, 2011, the Veteran's tonsillectomy has been manifested by constant inability to speak above a whisper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's colon cancer was not incurred or aggravated in service, including as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim is denied.