Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran's basal cell carcinoma is related to his military service due to sun exposure during active duty in Panama.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hammertoes were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and are not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain relevant service and VA medical records, as well as any pertinent treatment from USNH. The veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the newly obtained evidence.

The veteran's appeal is to determine if the reduction of his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma evaluation from 100% to zero percent was proper. The case has been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's scars and pain.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound, right chest with compensatory scoliosis of the thoracic spine. The issue of an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD remains unresolved.

The appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the veteran, and thus cannot be a proper claimant for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for a disability involving the hands, finding no evidence of such a condition during or after service and concluding that any current hand numbness is more likely related to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the character of the appellant's discharge from service constitutes a bar to payment of VA benefits.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease was not related to service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and therefore, VA burial benefits are denied.

The veteran's disabilities include loss of use of both hands and feet, which meet the eligibility criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment under 38 U.S.C. § 3902.

The Board found that the appellant was at fault in the separation from her husband, preventing her from being recognized as his surviving spouse for VA benefits.

The veteran's claim for education benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill was denied because he did not timely submit requested information and his address changed without notification to VA.

The veteran's application for enrollment in the VA healthcare system was denied due to his status as a nonservice-connected veteran and not being enrolled prior to January 17, 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for laryngeal cancer as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral inguinal hernias and assigned a 40 percent rating effective June 10, 2003. The veteran's right inguinal hernia was previously rated at 10 percent before April 4, 2002.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the appellant's claims, including applying the appropriate version of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for cases filed prior to October 1, 1997.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right leg disability and an increased rating for right trochanteric bursitis, finding that the veteran's current symptoms are not related to his military service.