Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for disabilities manifested by fatigue, blood in the stool, sleeplessness, forgetfulness, weakness, nausea, numbness in the legs, and a blood disorder, claimed as a result of exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability. The Board also found that this benefit should be granted.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied because it was not filed within the required one-year period following notification of service connection for his low back disability.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the varicose veins and dermatophytosis of both feet did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claim for service connection for pseudoxanthoma elasticum with blindness had been received, and it is granted. The veteran's condition is found to have onset during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation, finding that there was no reasonable possibility that the condition could be attributed to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral defective hearing warrants a 10 percent evaluation, based on the revised criteria for evaluating audiological disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for enucleation of the left eye in May 1981, and since then no new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim that his stepchildren, D.F., Jr. and J.F., can be established as dependents for VA compensation purposes due to a lack of evidence showing they receive at least half of their support from the veteran.

The Board has determined that a separate rating of 30 percent is warranted for the complete amputation of the right index finger, while maintaining the current 50 percent rating for the partial amputation and associated nerve damage.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected intra-abdominal injury affecting the liver, currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran's compensation benefits are apportioned to his former spouse, who is in custody of their minor child. The amount of $160 per month is granted as an appropriate apportionment.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a compensable rating of 10 percent for residuals of spontaneous pneumothoraces, based on his pulmonary function test results.

The veteran did not die of a service-connected disability and was not evaluated as permanently and totally disabled due to service-connected disability for a period of 10 years prior to his death, thus the appellant does not meet the basic requirements for educational assistance under Chapter 35.

The Board denied an increased rating for postoperative residuals of varicose veins of the left leg, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating than the current 20 percent.

The VA denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's bilateral pes cavus and fasciitis, finding that his condition did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for his post-operative facial cancer. The issues of entitlement to service connection for depression and headaches are also pending.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board finds that the veteran's stress fracture residuals of the left second metatarsal do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as they are currently asymptomatic and do not result in functional limitation.

The veteran's dysthymia was rated at 100% effective from the grant of service connection. For Reiter's syndrome, a rating in excess of 40% prior to February 7, 2001 and in excess of 60% thereafter is granted.