Other conditions decisions — 2001

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, eye injury, and high fever as there is no medical evidence of current disabilities.

The Board denied that the veteran's death as a result of a motor vehicle accident in service was incurred in the line of duty due to his willful misconduct.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's left leg varicose vein disability, finding that persistent edema and stasis pigmentation are present. The condition does not meet criteria for higher evaluations.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right foot injury was denied by the RO.

The appellant is not a veteran for purposes of entitlement to VA benefits.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for Duke B-2 adenocarcinoma of the rectum with status post left anterior resection with history of radiation is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was causally related to service, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

The veteran's lung cancer and liver/bone metastasis are presumed to be due to his exposure to ionizing radiation during service in Japan. His left knee replacement is granted a rating of 30 percent for purposes of payment of accrued benefits.

The Board denied service connection for pancreatic cancer, status postoperative as a result of exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the right upper thigh, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an effective date earlier than March 24, 1998, for a 20 percent rating for right fifth toe amputation. The appeal was dismissed as there is no evidence demonstrating increased disability or any related claim prior to March 24, 1998.

The appellant's claim for VA benefits was denied as he has not established service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Board found that the veteran's bronchiectasis existed prior to his entry into military service and was not aggravated during service. Therefore, it denied the claim for service connection.

The appellant's claim for VA benefits is denied as he does not meet the criteria to be considered a 'veteran' and thus, has no basic eligibility for VA benefits.

The Board found that there is no objective evidence of a chronic skin disorder, concentration and memory problems, or depressed mood. The veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for cold injury residuals was denied as there is no evidence of an increase in disability within one year prior to the July 1998 claim.

The RO denied the veteran's claim for VA vocational rehabilitation training benefits. Additional evidence was added to the record, including a transcript of the veteran's July 1996 hearing, but the RO did not consider this new evidence in its decision.

The veteran's appeal for increased evaluation and effective date is dismissed due to untimely filing of the Substantive Appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected pancreatitis with pancreatic pseudocyst and glycosuria, currently rated at 60 percent.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for dental care provided in late 1984, 1985, and 1986 at VA facilities. The RO must obtain relevant medical records and schedule the veteran for a comprehensive VA examination to assess his conditions and determine their relationship to any dental procedures.