Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's blood clots and urinary tract problems did not originate in service or for many years thereafter, and are not related to any incident during active service or to any exposure to hazardous environmental agents employed in Project SHAD. Therefore, the claims were denied.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for an effective date earlier than November 30, 1993 for posthumous entitlement to compensation during the Veteran's lifetime for service-connected cancer of the lung and esophagus as due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of VA death benefits because they were divorced at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye disorder, diagnosed as melanocytoma, had its onset during his period of active service and is therefore service-connected.

The Veteran's bowel disorder was not incurred in active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's mood disorder with depressive features was characterized by symptoms such as depressed mood, constricted and tearful affect, sleep disturbances, decreased energy, and a GAF score of 52 prior to September 21, 2011. The criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic neck sprain was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or etiological link to his active service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current condition of restless leg syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected tinea corporis and tinea pedis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current gastrointestinal disorder related to service, and the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was currently manifested by pain and tenderness without other significant symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, evaluating it as 10 percent disabling prior to February 4, 2009, and as 40 percent disabling from that date. The appeal is based on the current evaluation of the condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of cold weather injury to both hands are related to his service, and thus granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete responses from a VA examiner regarding specific questions posed by the Board.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for a comprehensive orthopedic examination. The Veteran may also be scheduled for a hearing before a Member of the Board if he wishes.

The Veteran does not have a chronic cardiac disability that was incurred in or aggravated by active service, and the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with hypertension and erectile dysfunction have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his herniated discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1 is being remanded due to insufficient evidence of the extent of functional loss and any objective neurological abnormality.

The RO reduced the Veteran's disability rating from 40 percent to 10 percent for recurrent disc herniation status post L5-S1 diskectomy, finding material improvement in his condition. The Board finds this reduction proper.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for non-malignant meningioma due to ionizing radiation exposure, finding that there was no reasonable possibility that the condition resulted from in-service radiation exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of a transcript from his April 2010 DRO hearing and because VA needs to consider the fact that he was adjudicated incompetent during part of the relevant period.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for helpless child benefits on behalf of his son H due to new and material evidence received since the November 1994 rating decision. The claim is now remanded for further development.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to lack of qualifying service, as determined by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).