Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left elbow arthralgia resulted from aggravation of preexisting residuals of a left humerus fracture incurred in a 1975 motor vehicle accident. The chest disability is not addressed as it was not part of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his vision disorder service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that existing evidence was not sufficient to establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current assertions of having suffered dental trauma in service are not supported by the record and there is no evidence showing a causal link between any current dental disability and an injury in service. Therefore, service connection for residuals of loosened teeth as a result of dental trauma was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for ecthyma of the lower extremities has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for cephalgia was granted, with a current evaluation of 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his current respiratory disorder is related to in-service chemical exposure.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the legal requirements for service-connected death pension benefits, DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, or non-service connected death pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service and failure to establish entitlement.

The Board denied an increased rating for postoperative residuals of a right inguinal hernia, finding that the current condition does not warrant a higher rating under any diagnostic code.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The claims for an increased evaluation for irritable stomach and for an effective date prior to December 15, 1998, for service connection for diabetes insipidus are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a right eye disorder, as secondary to medication received for treatment of his service-connected malaria. The case is remanded for further development and an opinion on whether the current right eye disorder is related to his service-connected malaria.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The VA determined that the veteran's current thoracic spine disability is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on housebound status, but denied it based on aid and attendance. The appeal is now remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a disability manifested by impaired equilibrium is being remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, finding that it was not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran did not suffer additional disability as a result of the August 1994 VA surgery and that his residuals were expected consequences of the surgery. As such, the claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied.

The veteran's appeal for increased disability rating and TDIU has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeals.

The Board found that the veteran's gunshot wound residuals did not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability is aggravating his claimed trigeminal neuralgia.