Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected detached retina, left eye, status post corrective surgery does not warrant a compensable rating due to its current manifestations of impaired distant visual acuity correctable to 20/40.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and bruxism, finding no current diagnoses or evidence of such conditions.

The veteran died without having a pending claim for VA benefits and was not in receipt of any compensation or pension. Therefore, he did not meet the criteria for payment of VA burial benefits.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now remanded to the RO for obtaining medical records and conducting orthopedic and neurologic examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right elbow bursitis due to a lack of current medical diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service. The issues regarding initial evaluations for post-operative residuals of heel spurs were not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected left leg fracture and lumbar myositis, finding that a disability rating greater than 20 percent is not warranted.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and thus no longer has jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his unspecified metastatic carcinoma to his military service or any presumptive conditions related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted an increased rating to 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of an intracranial injury, effective October 18, 2001. The earlier effective date claim is denied as there was no unadjudicated informal claim prior to October 18, 2001.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for non-service-connected pension benefits because his service did not meet the threshold eligibility requirements established by statute.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for cold injury residuals of the right foot and a 20 percent rating for cold injury residuals of the left foot, effective as of the date service connection became effective.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current dental disability and thus is not entitled to service connection for purposes of receiving outpatient dental treatment.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to procedural deficiencies and to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board found that the veteran's net worth exceeded the limit for non-service-connected disability pension benefits, as his expenses exceed his income and he has a significant amount of assets. As such, payment of Improved Disability Pension benefits is precluded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the appellant's medical expenses and income, particularly in relation to her eligibility for VA death pension benefits. The RO is instructed to review the claims file, obtain all relevant medical expense details from the appellant, and then readjudicate the issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and a need for further medical examination. The appellant's claim for service connection for cold injury to his hands and feet, bilateral is pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to scheduling issues, and will handle it further.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for compliance with the provisions of the February 1997 remand, including providing adequate reasons and bases for the decision, ensuring full compliance with the VCAA, and scheduling a VA vascular examination.

The veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's systemic arthritis does not warrant a compensable rating, and his peptic ulcer disease with gastritis and residuals of hiatal hernia repair is rated at 10 percent. The preponderance of evidence is against granting higher ratings for either condition.