Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a broken collarbone, finding that there is no competent evidence of current disability.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 23, 2003 for the assignment of a 100% evaluation for service-connected head trauma with dizziness, headaches, and anxiety (head trauma). This decision is based on evidence showing symptomatology warranting such a rating prior to July 15, 1998.

The veteran's right arm shell fragment wound residuals do not meet the criteria for an increased rating as they do not manifest by right forearm flexion limited to 45 degrees or forearm extension limited to 110 degrees.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The other causes of death, including aspiration pneumonia, dysphagia, deep right intracranial hemorrhage, and right lower extremity deep venous thrombosis, were not related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for a neck condition and foot condition, finding no new and material evidence.

The veteran's gastrointestinal disability, specifically impairment of the esophagus, is currently rated at 50 percent. The VA has determined that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms and functional limitations.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's right little finger fracture, finding that the current noncompensable evaluation adequately reflects his disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right elbow disability, currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence showed degenerative changes and subjective complaints of chronic elbow pain with weakness and limitation of motion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical evidence and a VA examination to address the relationship between his polyps and diverticulitis and service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the reduction in the veteran's non-service-connected pension benefits based on receipt of Social Security benefits was valid.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a lower back injury sustained during active military service, and thus the claim for service connection for residuals of a lower back injury is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death, and thus no effective date earlier than July 9, 1997 for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD is considered.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left index finger disability is due to an injury sustained during active military service, specifically ACDUTRA. The claim for service connection for tenosynovitis of the left long (middle) finger is also granted.

The Board found that the veteran did not receive additional disability as a result of VA medical treatment, and thus denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for left foot lesions and bilateral foot conditions, finding no new evidence to support the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left knee disability does not warrant more than a currently assigned evaluation of 10 percent for internal derangement and arthritis. The claims are granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a dental condition and VA outpatient dental treatment for a non-service-connected condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disabilities of the feet, dysthymic disorder, and PTSD are not service-connected. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected recurrent strain of the left MCL with residual saphenous nerve injury, and denied entitlement to a compensable rating for the service-connected left saphenous branch sensory disturbance.

The veteran's service-connected low back disability was granted an increased rating of 20 percent effective December 4, 2002. Prior to this date, the condition was rated at 10 percent.