Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, non-small cell carcinoma of the lung, was not caused by or a result of any service-connected disability. The evidence did not show exposure to Agent Orange in service and thus the presumptive provisions for such exposure do not apply.

The Board finds that the veteran's psoriatic arthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in such service.

The Board denied service connection for shin splints and earaches, finding that the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The veteran's decreased visual acuity in the left eye is not deemed to be due to carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA medical personnel during treatment for a laceration in February 1994. The Board denied compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the issue on appeal requires additional development and must be remanded for a medical examination to determine if the veteran's current residuals of sub-total gastrectomy and/or chronic ulcer are causally related to his period of active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for post traumatic stress disorder and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient evidence of combat exposure or verified in-service stressors.

The Board has granted service connection for digestive disability and impotency, with a rating of 60 percent effective August 28, 1998. The issue of TDIU prior to August 28, 1998 is also granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected post-operative residuals of status post fractures of L2 and L3 with deformity of the third vertebral body is being remanded due to the need for further examination and medical opinions.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder is being remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions, including peripheral vascular disease and coronary obstructive pulmonary disease, are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 4, 1998 for a total rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The RO correctly assigned this date as both the date of receipt of claim and the date entitlement arose.

The veteran's claim for non-service connected pension benefits was denied as he did not meet the service requirements due to less than 90 days of active wartime service and discharge or release from such service for reasons other than a service-connected disability.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's currently diagnosed alcohol-induced chronic relapsing pancreatitis to service or any incident of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left eye myopia is not related to service and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his postgastrectomy syndrome disability is being remanded due to the need for further examination and review.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to VCAA compliance issues and consideration of revised rating criteria.

The veteran seeks a higher rating for his service-connected duodenal ulcer. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for interstitial lung disease, including as secondary to herbicide exposure. The Board found no evidence linking the current condition to service or any presumptive conditions.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected bacillary dysentery residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of issues.

The veteran is seeking service connection for sensory ataxia (dizziness) that he claims is secondary to his service-connected left eye blindness. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records and an examination.