Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's papular urticaria warrants a 10 percent disability evaluation, as it meets the criteria for this rating under the old VA rating schedule.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to myelomonocytic leukemia, finding that there was no evidence of participation in a radiation risk activity and thus no presumptive service connection based on exposure to ionizing radiation. The service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound did not contribute substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for residuals of a back injury is granted.

The Board has decided to grant service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that the evidence supports such a determination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a tracheostomy, including a throat disorder with secondary breathing problems, as a result of treatment by VA in March 1981.

The Board found that the veteran had submitted new and material evidence to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for Reiter's syndrome, but ultimately denied the claim as there was no competent evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's narcolepsy did not develop during his active service and is not related to any head injury he sustained in service. The pre-existing condition was not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of a new or material issue being raised.

The Board has granted service connection for halitosis and assigned a 10% rating for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

The veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for his service-connected posttraumatic arthritis of the right elbow is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's current low back disabilities, including spina bifida, disc bulge, and spondylosis. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has found that the veteran's claimed conditions of arthritis and nerve damage of the right hand were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to a service-connected disability. The RO denied service connection for these conditions as well as increased evaluations for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and a missed VA rheumatology examination. The veteran's claims for service connection for left-sided weakness and TDIU are pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of postgastrectomy syndrome warrant a disability rating of 60 percent, effective from October 24, 2002.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death, acute myelofibrosis with candida pneumonia, is causally related to his active service exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The appellant requested a hearing before the Board, but her request was not satisfied. The case is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing at the RO level or adding her name to the appropriate schedule of hearings.

The appellant's claim of recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse for DIC benefits is denied because she was not legally married to him at the time of his death.

The Board finds that the veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right neck lymph node is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a medical opinion regarding whether the veteran's complaints of pain during service represented aggravation of a pre-existing injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that his additional disability was not caused by VA negligence or an unforeseen event.

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