Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected dysphagia, postoperative vagotomy with hiatal hernia and reflex esophagitis, and right hand fracture residuals were denied. The RO assigned noncompensable ratings to all three conditions.,There is no evidence that the veteran's service-connected conditions meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable evaluation under any applicable rating code.

The veteran's service connection claim for residuals of burns to the eyes was denied, while his claim for residuals of a cold injury to multiple extremities and nose (including ears, cheeks, hands, feet) was granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has determined that the earliest effective date for a 100% disability rating for service-connected schizoaffective disorder is December 19, 1989. The veteran's claim was initially filed in May 1985 and he received a temporary 100% disability rating based on hospitalizations from April to June 1985, May to June 1986, July 1986 to August 1986, and for several days in February 1987. The Board found that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date due to the lack of ascertainable increase in disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination that describes all symptomatology from the March 2005 examination specifically related to his service-connected residuals of a stroke and distinguishes it from symptoms due to service-connected residuals of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected prostatitis, finding that he did not meet the criteria for such an increase.

The veteran's appeal regarding the unusual medical expenses deduction for 1998 and the interest income from redeemed Savings Bonds was dismissed due to a withdrawal of appeal by the appellant.

The veteran's application for waiver of his loan guaranty indebtedness was denied due to filing the request more than a year after receiving notification of the debt. The case is being remanded for further action.

The appeal was dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal before a decision could be made.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the appellant and because of VCAA notice deficiencies. The claim is related to service connection for the cause of death, presumed due to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, but the claim for new and material evidence to reopen a previous denial of service connection for bronchitis was granted.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a left hip disorder and the veteran's claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bladder disability was not caused by VA treatment, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to cardiopulmonary arrest in 1993. The appellant has submitted new evidence, but it does not provide a linkage between the veteran's service and his death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence of Agent Orange exposure during his active duty and that his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma did not have a relationship to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected posttraumatic arthritis of the left little finger is currently rated at 10 percent.,Service connection for a left fourth finger disability, previously claimed as posttraumatic arthritis, was granted.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left shoulder disability, effective from August 17, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's right hand injury does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or amended schedule for evaluating ankylosis or limitation of motion of single or multiple digits of the hand.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a left scapula fracture do not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for refractive error and residuals of an eye injury, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen these claims.