Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the appellant's current bilateral foot disorder, including metatarsalgia, callosities of the feet with bilateral bunions and degenerative joint disease, is related to his service experience. The claim for service connection is granted.

The VA determined that the appellant does not have at least 90 days of active duty service during a period of war, which is required for non-service-connected pension benefits. The appeal was denied.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected right knee disability, effective from June 1, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran lacked testamentary capacity at the time he changed the beneficiary of his National Service Life Insurance policy, and thus the appellant is now recognized as the validly designated beneficiary.

The veteran's somatoform pain disorder and psychoneurosis are currently rated at 10 percent. The claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating is denied.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that rheumatic heart disease was not a principal or contributory cause of the veteran's death.

The Board finds that the veteran's skin disability, which had its inception during his military service, is currently diagnosed and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of basal cell carcinoma of the left neck do not warrant a compensable evaluation, as there is no functional limitation or significant physical impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of an acoustic neuroma and trigeminal neuralgia, finding no new and material evidence to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to be recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits due to lack of legal marriage prior to the veteran's death and no children born of their relationship.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine if the appellant's right index finger or hand disability is due to VA medical treatment and whether it constitutes additional disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal and psychiatric disorders are not well grounded. The evidence does not support a causal relationship between these conditions and either service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected residuals of right lobectomy with bronchiectasis and right diaphragmatic paralysis is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and testing.

The Board finds that the veteran has stated plausible claims for service connection for a gynecological disability and chronic pulmonary disability. The appeal is granted.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, acute myocardial infarction, was not related to his in-service smoking habits and nicotine dependence.

The Board found that the claim for service connection for residuals of lead intoxication is not well-grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left tibia, effective from April 1999.

The veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for his service-connected PTSD. The RO has requested additional medical evidence and a new VA psychiatric examination to determine the appropriate evaluation.

The Board denied a claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fracture to the right ring finger, finding that the disability did not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current disability of frozen feet is due to frostbite sustained during military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.