Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran's disability did not meet or approximate criteria for a higher initial rating than 40 percent.

The VA has determined that a compensable disability rating for the veteran's stable post fracture of the left fibula is not warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board found that the veteran's current back disorder is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected traumatic amputation of the distal phalanx of the left middle finger, finding that her disability manifested by loss of approximately two-thirds of the length of the distal phalanx did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of chronic disability in service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for right fifth digit Boutonniere deformity with flexion contracture was denied by the Board.

The veteran's heart disability, which includes mitral valve prolapse with premature ventricular contractions, is currently rated at 30 percent. The RO granted an increased rating to the current 30 percent from the original date of service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for left-sided hearing impairment and did not reopen the claim of service connection for right-sided hearing impairment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability affecting his hands and feet. The evidence submitted since the last final denial supports this reopening, but further development is needed to determine if the condition was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hammertoes and calluses of the feet, finding new evidence that supports a finding of in-service onset or aggravation. The claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hydrocephalus was incurred during his active military service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for blood spots on his right upper arm, finding that there was no evidence linking this condition to his military service.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for syringomyelia, secondary to right shoulder bursitis, should be remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Board found that the veteran developed Behcet's Syndrome during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of reopening his skin disability service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, despite his assertion that he has a skin disorder and porphyria cutanea tarda.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hydronephrosis was denied by the RO. The issue of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the August 1959 decision that recharacterized the service-connected disability as hydronephrosis and reduced the evaluation to 0 percent is also pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected residuals of distal fractures of the left tibia and fibula is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination to assess whether venous insufficiency is causally related or aggravated by these fractures.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-L5 with chronic low back pain is being remanded due to the need for further development of the evidence, including another VA examination.