Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran is seeking to establish service connection for traumatic arthritis of both his right and left lower extremities, which he claims are secondary to the service-connected shell fragment wounds in those areas. The case is being remanded due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's appeal for specially adapted housing benefits is being held in abeyance due to the pending service connection claims. The issue will be remanded and consolidated with his other claims once they are fully adjudicated.

The Board has granted the veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of dental trauma.,However, the issue of organic brain syndrome remains in a 'unknown' status as it is not addressed by new evidence.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for dysthymia, medial epicondylitis of the elbows, AC joint arthrosis of the shoulders, and lumbar spine DDD were denied. The RO found that his dysthymia did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 20 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left knee osteochondritis dissecans and arthritis with limitation of motion should be set at January 25, 1999.

The veteran's application for basic eligibility to receive educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30 was denied because he received more than $2,000 in tuition costs during each year of his participation in the NROTC scholarship program. The Board found that this exceeded the exception set forth in the regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and a bilateral foot disorder, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pleurisy, finding that there is no evidence of a respiratory disorder during or immediately following service and concluding that any current pleural pathology is not related to service.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for bilateral Achilles tendonitis, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left proximal humerus fracture is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence.

The veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for an automobile allowance under 38 C.F.R. § 3.808.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for his skin disorder and an increased rating for multiple-joint arthritis. The veteran's skin condition was found to be very mild, with no significant active lesions. His arthritis did not meet criteria warranting a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and arthritis may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cuts to his right arm, right side of face, and chin was not well grounded as there is no competent medical evidence showing such conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis. The current assigned rating of 30 percent is maintained.

The Board found that the veteran's loss of sense of smell is not related to his military service, including exposure to diesel fuel.

The Board finds that there is no current diagnosis of a heart disorder, and thus service connection for a heart disorder is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a left thigh muscle disorder, left hamstring disorder, or trochanter bursitis of the left hip as a result of his service. The RO's decision to grant service connection for the scar on the left thigh and assign a 10 percent rating is upheld.

The Board has determined that an apportionment of the veteran's nonservice-connected disability pension on behalf of his children is not warranted due to financial hardship and the veteran's provision for his dependents.