Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining financial status reports from the veteran and appellant, inviting them to submit any pertinent evidence in their possession, ensuring all notification and development action required by the VCAA are fully complied with, and scheduling a hearing if requested.

The veteran's service-connected foot and thumb disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining suitable employment, as he is currently employed in an occupation consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and peripheral neuritis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The claim for earlier effective date of nonservice-connected pension benefits was also denied.

The veteran's claims for retroactive educational benefits and extension of his eligibility period were denied as he did not meet the legal requirements for such benefits.

The RO denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim for VA disability benefits based on qualifying military service, finding that he did not have valid military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right Achilles tendon tear or hearing loss and tinnitus that are related to his military service. Therefore, he is denied entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda, claimed as due to in-service herbicide exposure, for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development and readjudication due to inadequate notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board denied initial compensable evaluations for post-operative residuals of left and right inguinal hernias, finding no recurrence or impairment from the service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current right foot disability.

The RO denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected congenital fusion, C4-C5 vertebrae. The case was remanded multiple times and a 30 percent rating was assigned effective from February 7, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of myocardial infarctions secondary to his service-connected thrombophlebitis of the left leg, finding that there was no evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of chemical exposure, reopened the claim for PTSD based on new evidence, but denied both the increased rating for atopic dermatitis and the reopening of the PTSD claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hydrocele was aggravated by active military service, warranting service connection.

The veteran's application for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was denied due to his income exceeding the statutory and regulatory limitations.

The Board found that the appellant was capable of self-support at age 18, and thus is not entitled to recognition as a 'child' for purposes of entitlement to VA benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of his tonsillectomy and service connection for a sinus disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking the sinus disorder to his service-connected tonsillectomy residuals.

The veteran's death was caused by cardiogenic shock due to hemolytic crises, and chronic lymphatic leukemia. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of her husband's death and accrued benefits based on a pending claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further action regarding his claim of service connection for dental trauma and whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for poison ivy.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing medical evidence and clarification of the role of the veteran's service-connected tuberculosis in his death.