Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 20, 2007, for the assignment of a 30 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 20, 2007, for the assignment of a 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee was also denied.

The Veteran died of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, which the VA physician opined was not related to service or Agent Orange exposure. The Board found no evidence linking his death to his active duty service.

The Veteran's death was recognized as a result of his common-law marriage to the appellant, and she is granted recognition as his surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus with spinal stenosis of the thoracolumbar spine is shown to have been manifested by complaints of pain, forward flexion to 31 degrees, and incapacitating episodes lasting a duration of at least 6 weeks during a 12 month period. The Board finds that for the entire appeal period, the criteria for a 60 percent rating are met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cold injury residuals and Raynaud's phenomenon, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the Veteran's restrictive lung disease with pleural calcifications is etiologically related to a disease, injury, or event in service, specifically asbestos exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for bilateral cataracts and determined that new evidence supports a finding of causation between the Veteran's use of steroid medication for her service-connected endometriosis and her development of bilateral postoperative cataracts.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine the status of his claim for a Category I assignment under the Standards of Practice for the Administration of the Self Employment track for purposes of VRE services. The RO should request a status update from VRE services and associate any relevant evidence.

The Veteran's right foot drop disorder and partial loss of use of the right leg have been granted service connection with a 10% evaluation effective March 3, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's right foot disabilities are adequately described by the current rating schedule and do not warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a prostate disability, including chronic prostatitis and BPH. The evidence did not support a finding that his current condition was incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran is entitled to 36 months of education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as awarded in her May 2009 Certificate of Eligibility, less any months used since her enrollment in school in May 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins of the bilateral lower extremities is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records from the Social Security Administration and VA.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected disorder to 50 percent, but denied entitlement to a TDIU. The case is being remanded due to the need to obtain VA treatment records and SSA records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sinus disorder, finding that there is insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board granted service connection for cardiac arrhythmia and assigned an initial rating of 10% for thoracic spine strain. The Veteran's current disability is shown to be related to his active military service.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is due to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board found no evidence of current phlebothrombosis and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and private physician's records. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death and burial benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of additional compensation for a dependent spouse was denied as there is no evidence that she had submitted a prior claim before May 30, 2006.