Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations for his service-connected conditions, including residuals of a fractured right femur and fractures of the right humerus, as well as carpal tunnel syndromes in both hands.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of her deceased husband's death, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of his back, finding that there was no evidence to support a finding that the condition either had its onset in service or was permanently worsened therein.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wounds to the right elbow, right forearm, and right hand, as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that arthritis in the veteran's left hand, and other than those involving the right third and fifth fingers, is not service-connected.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected temporomandibular joint dysfunction is being remanded due to the need for additional development and adjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right ear otitis media, finding that the evidence did not warrant a rating in excess of the current 10 percent ratings.

The veteran's postoperative residuals of a gunshot wound to the left chest, with a history of retained foreign body, were not shown to be moderately severe and manifested by pain in the chest and dyspnea on moderate exertion. Therefore, his claim for an increased rating prior to October 7, 1996 was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical evidence to determine if the veteran was treated for heart disease during his lifetime. The claim will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board found that prostatitis was not incurred in or due to active service and may not be presumed related to military service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and left foot injury, as well as an increased rating for PTSD. The skin disorder claim was denied due to lack of current diagnosis and no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure. The left foot injury claim was also denied without any current diagnosis provided by medical evidence. The PTSD claim was not addressed in detail but impliedly denied.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for the residuals of left inguinal hernia repair, effective from the date of the initial grant of service connection in February 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current chronic ear and head injury residuals, arm disorder, and leg disorder are not caused by or related to the December 11, 1997, bilateral ear lavage performed at the VA outpatient facility. Therefore, compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral calf myalgias do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's tumor of the left breast is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 is causally linked to in-service trauma, and therefore service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left eye injury and reactive airways disease, finding no competent evidence to support these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and allowing the veteran to submit any additional evidence or statements.

The veteran's wrist disabilities have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling, with no higher evaluations granted due to the current limitations of motion and other factors.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right collarbone dislocation with muscle atrophy and postnasal septoplasty deformity due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.