Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board has granted service connection for restrictive lung disease (a respiratory disorder) due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran.

The VA determined that the veteran's chronic depressive neurosis does not warrant an evaluation greater than 50 percent, and did not grant entitlement to individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death (cardiac failure due to a bleeding peptic ulcer with anemia) was not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of malaria and therefore cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including on the basis of herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to the need for further development of his medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to ensure that all relevant evidence is obtained and considered, including obtaining VA treatment records from Washington University and arranging for examinations of the veteran's conditions.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ulnar nerve injury and shell fragment wound to the right thigh were denied as there is no evidence of more than mild or moderately severe impairment, respectively.

The Board has determined that the veteran is competent to manage his own affairs and therefore does not require a guardian or payee for VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing medical records and Social Security Administration records.

The veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for the right eye disability is being remanded due to a need for additional development and notification under the VCAA.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for secondary service connection for loss of equilibrium and disorientation, finding that it was not related to his service-connected loss of part of the skull.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for postoperative residuals of basal cell carcinoma and ectropion are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies in the VCAA, including inadequate notice regarding the evidence needed to substantiate his claims. Further development is required, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected skin conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's current urethral stricture was not present during service and is not related to his military service. The VA medical opinions concluded that the condition did not stem from any infection or injury sustained in service.

The veteran seeks compensation for an enucleated right eye under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to alleged VA negligence during cataract surgery. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining records related to a potential Federal Tort Claims Act claim and arranging for a medical opinion.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder (claimed as a duodenal ulcer).

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a closed head injury, including headaches and hearing loss. The right elbow disability is still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional evidence related to the veteran's right lower extremity disability.

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral hand disability is not related to his service-connected lower back disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for an increased evaluation and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 20, 1998, for the payment of an additional dependency allowance was granted. The effective date is set at September 20, 1998.