Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for Raynaud's disease prior to December 21, 2001 and a 60 percent rating from that date. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including a fungal infection of the hands and feet and atrophy or arthritis of the left upper extremity. The VA will also provide an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the left little finger.

The veteran is seeking service connection for eye disorders including myopia, astigmatism, diplopia, and cataract changes. The RO has requested a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected bilateral defective hearing, which was previously rated at 20 percent. The evidence showed that the veteran now had a more severe pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the appellant's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of a left varicocele.

The Board found that the veteran's respiratory problems were due to exposure to asbestos during service, and granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The VA has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for panic disorder, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA benefits because her deceased husband did not have the required military service to qualify.

The veteran's PTSD was productive of total occupational and social impairment from May 27, 1997 to November 7, 2000, leading to a grant of a 100% disability rating effective from that date.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the application of new rating criteria effective September 26, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as ruptured appendix), left knee disability, left hand disability, head injury (to include blackout spells), and PTSD. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the issues of an increased evaluation for right eye choroidal neovascular membrane and newly raised issue of entitlement to service connection for other bilateral eye disabilities are inextricably intertwined, at least at the present time. The case is being REMANDED to the VBA AMC for further development.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's causes of death to his service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to be recognized as the surviving spouse of the veteran for VA death benefits purposes due to lack of a valid marriage and no child born of the union.

The Board has determined that the correct effective date for the veteran's non-service-connected pension award is January 17, 2002, and the first payment of pension was made on February 1, 2002.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have qualifying service for VA pension benefits and therefore is not eligible for these benefits.

The Board found that the Osgood-Schlatter Disease of the right knee preexisted service and was not aggravated by active military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hammertoes of the right foot, which were surgically corrected during service, are not related to his period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disability, including gout, bilateral Tailor's bunion and onychomycosis, and for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for PTSD.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from June 28, 2002, through June 30, 2002 was denied as VA did not provide prior authorization and the veteran could have been transferred to a VA facility instead. The claim was also denied due to lack of timely filing within 90 days after discharge.