Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran's request for extraschedular evaluations for residuals of frozen right and left feet is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has denied service connection for a right elbow disability and arthritis of the right thumb, but has not established service connection for arthritis of the right hand. The issues of increased ratings for hepatitis C and bilateral metatarsalgia are deferred pending completion of the remanded issues.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative neuritis of the sural nerve does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran is seeking an increased disability rating for her service-connected dysthymic disorder, currently rated at 50 percent. The case is being remanded to the RO for consideration of additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for VA death pension benefits was received by VA on August 7, 2001. Therefore, her award of death pension benefits is granted with an effective date of September 1, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic dermatological disorder of both feet was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected right inguinal hernia, effective from the date of the October 2002 grant of service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's temporomandibular jaw syndrome was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's initial compensable rating for his service-connected residuals of a fragment wound to the left side is denied, as the current criteria cannot be used prior to their effective date.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a gastrointestinal disability.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA opinion regarding the cause of the veteran's death. The appellant must provide evidence linking service or exposure to herbicides in Vietnam to her husband's cancer.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder, including as due to asbestos exposure, is being remanded for further consideration with the addition of new medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's grandchild, C.S., cannot be recognized as his adopted child for VA purposes due to the natural parents' continued custody of the child.

The Board found that the appellant did not have qualifying service and is therefore not a veteran, denying basic legal entitlement to VA benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The VA has denied a compensable rating for the veteran's left tympanic membrane perforation as there is no evidence of an exceptional or unusual disability picture that would render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.

The Board has determined that there are no current residuals of a right leg injury or lung disorder, and thus the veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current disabilities related to cold injuries sustained during service. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service injury or disease, and there is no medical documentation showing treatment for these claimed conditions within one year after service discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and considering newly received evidence.