Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right hand injury, finding that there was no evidence linking any current right hand pathology to his military service.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of prostate gland, urinary tract, and stomach disorders is being remanded to the RO for further development in accordance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a spine ailment, including arthritis. The issue is now on remand for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for duodenal ulcer disease and determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluations of his service-connected conditions and a total rating based on individual unemployability has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his substantive appeal.

The veteran's opaque eardrums are currently rated as noncompensably disabling, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins, thrombosis, and peripheral vascular disease of his lower extremities as secondary to a service-connected left heel spur. The issues have been remanded due to new regulations requiring notification and development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The VA determined that the veteran's bursitis of the right hip warrants a 10 percent evaluation, but not higher. The condition is primarily manifested by pain and does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for left ulnar nerve paresis and a separate 10 percent evaluation for the painful scar on the left wrist. The veteran's shell fragment wound residuals of Muscle Group XI, left lower extremity, are rated noncompensably disabling under both old and new criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and assigned a 100% rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for grants of service connection for metastatic poorly differentiated non-small cell lung carcinoma and metastatic cancer of the liver for accrued benefit purposes.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the case is being remanded due to new legal requirements under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board has determined that a 30 percent disability evaluation is warranted for the veteran's postoperative internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture of the right femur, effective as of the date of this decision.

The Board finds that the RO in Hartford committed clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in its November 1967 decision by not assigning a compensable evaluation of 10 percent for the veteran's thoracic spine disability. The veteran is entitled to retroactive compensation at the 10-percent level dating back to June 27, 1967.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for residuals of an injury to the pleural cavity and remanded the issue of service connection for a cardiovascular disability, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation by the service-connected pleural cavity injury.

The Board has determined that there is new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The veteran's current right knee disability is found to be related to his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA improved death pension benefits due to her deceased husband's military service with the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, which does not qualify for improved death pension purposes.

The veteran's claim for service connection for osteoporosis was denied as not well grounded. The case is now remanded due to changes in the law and additional issues need to be addressed.

The veteran's combined disability evaluation is properly computed at 50 percent. The effective date for service connection of peptic ulcer disease with gastritis is set at June 17, 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's nasopharyngeal carcinoma, post radiation and chemotherapy is secondary to his inservice exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is granted.