Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sensory loss of hands and feet, finding no competent medical evidence to support a current disability. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his scar on the nose was granted with a rating of 10%.

The VA has determined that the veteran's fractures of the dorsal spine do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent, as they do not show residuals such as abnormal mobility requiring a neck brace, spinal cord involvement, bedridden state, or long leg braces.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, metastatic appendix cancer, was incurred in her active service. The Board found an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence showing a link between the veteran's military exposure to toxins and her development of cancer.

The veteran does not have a body rash that was incurred in or aggravated by service, to include as due to undiagnosed illness or other qualifying, chronic disability.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected back, migraine headaches, and tinea pedis. The right inguinal hernia claim was not addressed as it may have been secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the veteran's skin disorder claim and psychiatric condition, as well as developing all relevant treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and an opinion regarding the relationship between in-service genitourinary complaints and current prostate cancer or other co-existing genitourinary disorders.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death was not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a larynx disorder, sinus disorder, and dental disorder, as well as an increased evaluation for migraine headaches and entitlement to TDIU. The appeals were based on secondary service connection due to exposure to mustard gas or military service.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for HIV with gastroenteritis and pyloric ulcer was denied. The RO initially granted a 10% rating in April 1990, but did not grant higher ratings within the specified time periods.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing muscular dystrophy did not undergo an increase in underlying pathology beyond normal progression during service.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for an extra-schedular evaluation for a latex allergy, finding no objective evidence of frequent hospitalization or marked interference with employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to transverse myelitis prior to May 12, 1987, finding that an earlier effective date is not warranted.

The veteran's service-connected compression fracture of T11 and T12 is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular evaluation available. The Board found that his disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA Rating Schedule for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. Additionally, there was no evidence to support a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for stress urinary incontinence and service connection for myomatous uterus status post total vaginal hysterectomy secondary to her service-connected stress urinary incontinence.

The VA medical opinion found no additional permanent disability resulting from the April 1997 cerebral aneurysm surgical repair, thus denying entitlement to benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of bilateral inferior pubic rami fractures was remanded by the Board due to failure to report for a VA examination. The case is now back with the RO for further development and potential reconsideration.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the left fourth (ring) finger, finding that the disability is no more than mild in nature and not related to the service-connected injury.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an apportionment of the veteran's pension benefits on behalf of herself, finding that she was not a dependent spouse and had no financial support from the veteran.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's right lateral meniscectomy with chondromalacia patella, currently rated at 30 percent.