Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any current left or right hand disabilities that are related to his military service. The Veteran's current Dupuytren's contractures were found to be unrelated to his in-service injury and surgery.

The appellant is denied recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA Dependents and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and death pension benefits purposes due to her remarriage after the age of 57, which precludes her from being considered a surviving spouse.

The Veteran is seeking compensation for additional cardiovascular disability, including aortic aneurysm and decreased stamina, claimed as due to VA care or lack of proper care following surgery in January 2005. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected idiopathic familial tremor is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent, and there is no evidence that warrants a higher rating. The claim for an extraschedular rating remains pending.

The Veteran does not have a disability manifested by an acquired visual loss due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's death was caused by anoxic brain injury post cardiac arrest, with Crohn's disease listed as a contributing cause. The VA physician found it at least as likely as not that the Crohn's Disease began during service.

The Veteran's GI disorder is related to his service-connected disabilities, and he meets the criteria for a TDIU since November 5, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected condyloma accuminata in the penile and anal areas is not present at any time during the appeal period, resulting in a denial of his claim for a compensable rating.

The Board found that the overpayment was validly created due to a retroactive award of Chapter 35 benefits, and denied waiver of recovery because repayment would not result in undue financial hardship.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's HIV and HIV-related disorders were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing service medical records and an incomplete examination report. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.

The Veteran's right hip disability is manifested by limited range of motion, but no knee or low back disability has been etiologically linked to the service-connected condition. The Board finds that an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of sepsis infection, now characterized as right hip pain, does not meet the criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran incurred shrapnel wounds to his left arm, eyes and scalp, and throat and chin during service. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral Dupuytren's contracture was incurred during his active service and is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's paraplegia and related incontinence are found to be caused by the June 2006 VA AAA repair surgery, which was not reasonably foreseeable. The Board finds that the criteria for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 have been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's MAC disease is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The RO found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen service connection for Crohn's disease, as the additional evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder has been rated at 30 percent since August 19, 2005, based on occupational and social impairment with decrease in work efficiency and periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA treatment records. A new examination is also required to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of prostate cancer, secondary to urethral stricture, post-operative. The duodenal ulcer rating remains at 20 percent.