Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board has granted a separate 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected calluses of both feet, finding that they are analogous to moderately severe foot injuries. The appeal was not about service connection but rather an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for increased compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that there was an increase in the disability prior to October 15, 1996.

The Board has determined that the veteran's otitis media and mastoiditis of the right ear were incurred during service, leading to a grant of service connection. Service connection for right ear hearing loss is also established.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected knee chondromalacia, finding that no increase in disability occurred within one year prior to February 2, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's cancer, which resulted in his death, was not caused or aggravated by military service and could not be presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents used during service. The claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a lung injury due to a shell fragment wound in service, effective from October 28, 2003.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis for the veteran's claimed right and left hand disabilities, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his multiple wounds of the abdomen with scars and muscle group injury, finding no evidence of limitation or other compensable conditions.

The Board found that neither A.C.G. nor M.A.H. could be recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse, and denied A.C.G.'s claim.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic relapsing polychondritis was denied.,The veteran also sought an earlier effective date for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability, which was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed periodontal disease and gingivitis are not disabilities for VA compensation purposes, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the veteran's conditions existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not the veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of dependency and indemnity compensation benefits due to a valid divorce prior to the veteran's death, with no continuous cohabitation from marriage until his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right inguinal hernia and repair, finding that there was no objective evidence showing a hernia or injury during active duty. The Board also found that the hernia did not increase in severity during service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected post-operative residuals of left orchiectomy and hernia repair, as well as his initial evaluation for left ilio-inguinal nerve entrapment, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA disability rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 4, 2002 for a 10% evaluation for conjunctivitis with blepharitis. The RO had previously granted this evaluation in July 2002.

The veteran's L4-5 herniated disc, status post decompression discectomy, is due to an injury incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 90 percent rating for bilateral keratoconus, finding that there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to October 11, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or radiation in service and concluding that her cancer is not related to military service.