Other conditions decisions — 2003

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his gunshot wound of the left hand is being remanded due to a need for additional development and notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that there was no evidence in the service medical records to support his claim. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, which was previously denied in April 1992. The veteran now has the opportunity to have his claim reviewed on its merits.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disorder, COPD, did not exist prior to service and concluded that it was not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's ulcerative colitis was likely first manifested and incurred in service, granting service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his condyloma accuminata of the penis is being remanded to allow for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a recent Federal Circuit Court decision, and the RO must obtain a VA examination report from July 16, 2002, review all evidence added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC), and provide an SSOC summarizing the evidence and applicable law.

The Board has determined that the veteran's ex-wife, [redacted], is entitled to an apportionment of his VA benefits starting from October 1, 1997 and ending on June 1, 2001. The decision also reinstated this apportionment for a period until [redacted]'s twenty-third birthday.

The veteran's bilateral hallux valgus with flattening and hammertoes, status post bunionectomies is manifested by complaints of pain on manipulation and use of both feet, with swelling and objective evidence of bilateral deformity and characteristic callosities resulting in no more than severe impairment. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a chronic disability manifested by loss of appetite and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected psychoneurosis contributed to his death from coronary thrombosis, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has ordered additional development and is remanding the case for further consideration of service connection for a shrapnel wound to the left foot, taking into account recent evidence.

The veteran's initial rating for post traumatic stress disorder was granted at 30 percent, effective from November 26, 1997. The claim remains in appellate status as the veteran seeks an increased rating.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a dental condition due to in-service trauma and therefore denies his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran did not have exposure to ionizing radiation in service and denied his claim for service connection for residuals of colon cancer.

The veteran's bilateral varicose veins are now rated at 40 percent for each leg, effective from January 12, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran did not have microscopic gastroesophagitis or gastroesophageal reflux disease in military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for undifferentiated connective tissue disease, claimed as systemic lupus erythematous with Sjogren's syndrome, dryness of eyes and mouth, and joint swelling and pain, is being remanded due to the need for additional development by the RO.