Other conditions decisions — 2004

The veteran's service on the USS KITTY HAWK in the waters off the shore of the Republic of Vietnam does not qualify him for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of qualifying wartime service.

The veteran's service-connected right foot laceration disability contributed to the amputations of his left metatarsal head and great toe. His right foot laceration is currently rated at 10 percent.

The veteran is appealing the August 1968 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral hip aseptic necrosis with secondary bilateral hip arthritis. The appeal is being remanded to allow for further review and potential reconsideration of the claim.

The veteran disputes the validity of an overpayment of $2046 in pension benefits and requests a remand for further development.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability of malaria related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a stomach disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been received since the November 1959 denial.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if a head injury sustained as a prisoner of war caused an old cerebral infarct, and whether this cerebral infarct contributed to the veteran's death in 2001.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and requesting an addendum from a VA physician regarding the relationship between the veteran's cervical spine disability and his service.

The Board granted a 50% evaluation for coccidioidomycosis with a history of partial left lung resection from November 13, 2002 through December 15, 2003.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for further development to determine if the veteran's service-connected facial scars contributed to his death from septicemia.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left knee condition, which includes status post left patellectomy and lateral release. The veteran is also entitled to an increased disability rating of 10 percent for his degenerative joint disease with painful motion of the left knee.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for traumatic amblyopia, as the veteran did not provide any evidence showing his preexisting condition worsened during service.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development of evidence, including obtaining records from the appellant and her daughter. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional information has been obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records and potential exposure to dioxins or blood transfusions during service, which may have contributed to the veteran's liver cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence, including medical records from private providers. The veteran's claims for increased rating for callosities and temporary total disability rating are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the veteran's exposure to asbestos while in service, specifically on board the USS Bushnell and at the Naval Receiving Station. The veteran is seeking service connection for a lung disorder claimed as a residual of asbestos exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right leg, currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The veteran's genital herpes has been rated at 10 percent since August 30, 2002. The condition is currently stable with no active outbreaks or systemic manifestations.

The VA determined that the veteran's right thigh GSW injury, involving Muscle Group XIV, warrants a 10 percent disability rating.