Other conditions decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder due to lack of verified stressors during military service. The new evidence submitted since the July 1994 decision did not provide new and material information regarding the occurrence of verifiable stressors resulting in PTSD or engagement in combat with the enemy.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material for either claim of service connection, thus denying both claims.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a soft tissue lung mass due to Agent Orange exposure. The issue of PTSD was addressed on its merits.

The veteran's bilateral keratoconus was rated at 50 percent since September 1, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and residuals of a head and neck injury, finding that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions. The claim for residuals of a head and neck injury is specifically noted as being denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of December 2, 1996, for the grant of service connection for atrial fibrillation.

The appellant's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or by reason of being housebound is remanded due to a missed hearing notification.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a digestive disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for hepatitis. The veteran was not granted any benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection, finding that her current eye and dental conditions are developmental in nature. The gastrointestinal disability claim is remanded due to a lack of recent VA treatment records.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, but further development is needed before the merits of the case can be decided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted, but the effective date remains to be determined. The RO must obtain additional medical and employment records to determine if the veteran was unemployable due to service-connected disabilities prior to November 12, 1998.

The veteran's adenocarcinoma of the prostate is presumed to have been incurred as a residual of Agent Orange exposure during his service in Vietnam.

The veteran died due to paralysis agitans with dementia and lobar pneumonia. The cause of death was listed as paralysis agitans, but the underlying conditions were dementia and lobar pneumonia.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that none of his service-connected conditions contributed to his death and there is no evidence linking any service-related injury to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an amputated left leg and malaria, as well as his eligibility for nonservice-connected VA disability pension benefits. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his bilateral knee disabilities are denied. The RO established service connection and assigned a noncompensable rating in October 1991, which became final due to lack of appeal. The RO received the veteran's claim for an increased rating on March 18, 1999, but found no communication indicating entitlement to such increase within one year before that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have post-traumatic stress disorder and her skin disorder may be presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness incurred during service in the Persian Gulf Theater of Operations. The claim for post-traumatic stress disorder was denied.

The Board has granted a 60 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left upper extremity disability, secondary to ALS.

The veteran seeks service connection for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which he claims developed due to his time as a Prisoner of War. The VA has requested additional evidence and will review the case again after obtaining relevant medical records and opinions.