Other conditions decisions — 2003

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected malaria does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as he currently does not exhibit active symptoms or liver/spleen damage.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for hidradenitis suppurativa was denied. The RO increased the disability rating to 50 percent and assigned an effective date of July 30, 1999.

The service-connected duodenal ulcer did not cause or contribute to the veteran's death. The VA physician concluded that the veteran's demise was caused by aspiration pneumonia, and found no evidence of activity in his gastrointestinal disease up until the time of his post-operative course.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death (cardio-vascular shock, hemorrhage, and complicated peptic ulcer with perforations) was not caused by or related to service. The appellant's claims for accrued benefits and non-service-connected death pension benefits were also denied.

The Board finds that the veteran's current skin rash, characterized by itching, burning, and stinging of the groin area with secondary stria and intertrigo and perianal steroid atrophy, is due to a disease or injury incurred in service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his service-connected hiatal hernia, finding that he is not unemployable as a result of this condition alone.

The VA determined that the veteran's respiratory disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, based on the evidence showing mild impairment throughout the evaluation period.

The veteran's appeal for non-service connected disability pension is dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left thumb disability, finding that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a fracture of the first metatarsal, left foot.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any of the conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a Morton's neuroma in the left foot, finding that all reasonable doubt should be resolved in favor of the veteran.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for Hodgkin's disease, finding that it was not incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a currently diagnosed cardiovascular, neurological (including thoracic outlet syndrome and ulnar nerve damage), or respiratory disability. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board finds that the appellant's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is related to his in-service exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed eye disorder, including cataracts, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and could not be presumed to be due to mustard gas exposure. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died while his case was pending at the Board.

The veteran's left median nerve brachial plexopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher 40 percent evaluation is warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his liver laceration and stab wound with laparotomy residual scar, finding that the residuals did not meet criteria for a higher rating.