Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board found no evidence of a current right arm disorder related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for periodontitis for compensation purposes is denied due to the absence of legal merit.

The Board found that the veteran's right thigh residuals do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of moderately severe or severe muscle injury.

The Board found no service-connected disability that contributed to the veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of her husband's death, which was previously denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim is now pending on the basis that Agent Orange exposure may have contributed to his hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30% evaluation of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, finding that it was not factually ascertainable prior to May 26, 2000, that his condition warranted such a rating.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Board finds that the veteran's chronic digestive system disease with status-post colostomy was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it proximately due to a service-connected disability. The veteran's umbilical hernia does not warrant a compensable evaluation based on current symptoms and treatment. The requirements for special monthly pension benefits have not been met.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ), finding that there is no competent evidence demonstrating a direct relationship between TMJ and his military service, including as secondary to his service-connected otitis media with postoperative mastoidectomy. The Board also found that there was no additional impairment caused by the service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hip and feet pain as secondary to an undiagnosed illness due to lack of evidence supporting a qualifying chronic disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have any disability of thoracic spine related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have myofascial pain syndrome and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's right fifth toe disability warrants a 10 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5284 (moderate foot injury).

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA medical treatment, and thus denied the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include an adjustment disorder, finding no current medical evidence of such a condition and concluding that her previous diagnosis of an adjustment disorder was not currently present.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's pension benefits due to his estranged spouse's unreported wage income in 1995 was proper, and thus denied the appeal.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic back disorder or residuals of a back injury during service, and arthritis was not manifest within one year after separation. The veteran's current back problems are attributed to post-service incidents, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant is recognized as a valid surviving spouse of the veteran for VA death benefit purposes.