Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right hand fracture, which approximates his disability picture. The effective date is not specified as it was granted under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 4.30.

The Veteran's residuals of ventral hernia repair, other than scarring, are rated at 100 percent due to the persistent and inoperable nature of his condition.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for status post penetrating injury to the left thigh muscle with scarring is March 26, 1971.

The Board has granted service connection for Sydenham's chorea, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service illness. Service connection for residuals of rheumatic fever was denied.

The Veteran claims service connection for a genitourinary disorder, which he alleges is related to a groin injury sustained during military service. The claim will be remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Board found that the Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the esophagus was not caused by his exposure to Agent Orange and denied service connection for cause of death. The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was also denied as there is no evidence showing a service-connected disability rated as totally disabling for at least ten years immediately preceding the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection is being remanded due to the submission of additional records that may affect the determination.

The Veteran does not have any additional disabilities as a result of VA treatment in 2002 and 2007, which may be considered to be proximately due to VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot disability, including a fracture of the right great toe, is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim, finding that his left deviated nasal septum with consequent airway obstruction was incurred in service. The decision is based on a combination of medical evidence and lay testimony supporting this claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient development of the record, particularly regarding the severity and extent of his service-connected basal cell carcinoma scars. The case will be returned for further examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by multiple myeloma, which is service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand. The appeal is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a spine disability as the result of disease or injury incurred during his active military service, nor may arthritis of the spine be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to head and neck cancer, but his service-connected laryngeal cancer and basal cell carcinoma of the lower lip were not considered contributory causes. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure or environmental toxin exposure during service that could support a presumption of service connection for his cancers.

The evidence does not show a direct link between the Veteran's service and his current low back disorder, leading to denial of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right (major) rotator cuff syndrome is already rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent, and no referral for extraschedular consideration is warranted.

The Veteran's service-connected diplopia, postoperative cataracts with floaters, is being remanded for additional development to obtain current visual acuity tests and Goldman Vision Field tests measuring diplopia in both eyes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.