Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that the contested claims procedures have not been followed and thus remands the case for compliance with these procedures.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, finding that the earliest date entitlement could be established was March 23, 1994.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disorder for VA compensation purposes cannot be granted as there is no evidence of in-service trauma or aggravation, and thus the appeal is denied.

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted by the veteran supports reopening his claim for service connection, and finds that his current loss of sense of smell is related to a trauma he experienced during active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's loss of anal and sphincter control was not caused by VA care, treatment, or examination. The examiner concluded that the decreased tone in his internal sphincter could not have been caused by any of the veteran's colonoscopies.

The Board has determined that the veteran likely experienced PTSD due to events in Vietnam and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to withdrawal by the appellant's representative.

The Board found that the veteran's carcinoma of the head and neck was incurred in service due to exposure to Agent Orange, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether the veteran's bilateral dry eye and cataracts are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found no evidence of an in-service back injury and denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for numbness of the arms, swelling, and diarrhea due to undiagnosed illnesses are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an extension of his delimiting date for Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits, finding that he was not prevented from initiating or completing a chosen program due to a disability and that the denial of his initial application in 2002 was based on incorrect information.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired skin disorder and residuals of Agent Orange exposure. The claim is now reopened.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected gout does not warrant a disability rating greater than 20 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection as his heart disorder is not linked to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a right scrotal abscess or scabies during service, and the veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The veteran's cause of death, high-grade non-Burkitt's lymphoma, is linked to his service in the Southwest Asia theater. The medical evidence supports a connection between his exposure to chemicals and fumes during service and his lymphoma. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a question regarding the appellant's relationship to the veteran at the time of his death in July 1982. The issue is whether she may be recognized as the surviving spouse of the veteran for the purpose of eligibility for VA benefits.

The veteran's military service is not qualifying service for VA nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

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