Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's right testalgia is aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that cancer of the esophagus was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and did not have a material influence in his death. The confluent bronchopneumonia with sepsis, shock, and multi-system failure were also not related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypoglycemia and a higher rating for dysthymic disorder, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for TDIU. The decision also noted that the veteran's disabilities precluded him from gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Crohn's disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected gastritis, residual of a cholecystectomy, was granted by the RO. The evaluation is now at 10 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected otitis media of the left ear, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation, effective January 27, 1994.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed because his death made the appeal moot.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's post-operative prostate adenocarcinoma residuals, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on voiding dysfunction or renal dysfunction.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for calluses on both feet, which was previously denied in October 1954.

The Board denied a compensable initial disability rating for the service-connected fracture of the distal phalanx of the fourth finger of the left hand, finding no evidence of ankylosis or other functional loss.

The Board has restored the veteran's rating for residuals of a fracture of the right tibia and fibula from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective July 1, 2001.

The veteran's service-connected arthritis of the right third digit is rated at 10 percent since October 3, 1997. The rating for residuals of a tendon injury to the right fourth and fifth digits remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the RO's March 1981, September 1981, and October 1981 rating decisions denying service connection for cause of death were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The appellant is entitled to DIC but with an effective date of September 30, 1997.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of residuals from a back injury and granted it, finding that new evidence supports the case.

The veteran's service-connected scotomata, residuals of burns, are now rated at the highest available rating (70 percent), effective from the date of the decision.

The Board finds that the veteran's blood disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied both his claims for service connection and an increased rating.

Since July 16, 1994, the veteran's left lower extremity gunshot wound residuals have not met the schedular requirements for a rating in excess of 30.

The Board found no competent medical evidence showing that the veteran's left leg disability was incurred or aggravated during military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that [redacted] is the last-named principal beneficiary and entitled to the proceeds of the veteran's NSLI policy.