Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for educational benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code for the period from June 27, 1999 through June 24, 2000 was denied as he did not file his application within one year of receiving approval notice.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for residuals of sacrum fracture, bladder impairment, and radiculopathy was granted. A rating of 20 percent is assigned effective May 12, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's endocarditis did not start during his active duty for training and denied service connection.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease is rated at a maximum of 60 percent, effective from October 29, 2007. His bilateral plantar fasciitis remains at a 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bowel incontinence is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that there are no current cold injury residuals and that they are not related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's De Quervain's Syndrome of both wrists does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board found that the appellant's health problems and pain were not caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA medical providers during her July 1997 hernia surgery. The claim was denied as there is no evidence showing additional disability due to an unforeseeable event.

The Veteran's shell fragment wound of the right lower extremity was found to not meet criteria for a higher evaluation prior to March 1, 2010 and after that date did not meet criteria for a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's only service-connected disability is rated at 40 percent and does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disability alone.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disorder manifested by gout due to disease or injury that was incurred in or aggravated by active service or was proximately due to or the result of service-connected osteomyelitis, status post arthroplasty first metatarsophalangeal joint of the right foot.

The Veteran seeks service connection for residuals of a second degree burn to his left foot. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for an examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for duodenal ulcer was denied. The claim for service connection for diverticulitis was reopened, but the claim for lung disorder remains not service connected.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cataracts are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for cataracts as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and readjudicating the claim.

The Veteran sustained a complex regional pain syndrome affecting the left arm as a direct result of a VA blood draw in June 2005, which was not reasonably foreseeable and for which no consent was given.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for cataracts. The VA has determined that a remand is necessary to determine the etiology of any current cataracts and whether they are related to active service.

The Board granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of muscle pain as due to an undiagnosed illness, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The Veteran now has objective indications of chronic muscle pain.

The Veteran's service-connected left heel spur was initially rated as noncompensable prior to August 2, 2010 and subsequently rated at 10 percent from that date. The appeal is granted.