Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a cataract of the right eye has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected undulant fever or brucellosis, and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's compensation benefits should be reduced to a 10 percent rate due to his incarceration, as he was convicted of a felony prior to October 7, 1980 and remains incarcerated for that conviction as of December 27, 2001.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion on whether the veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam may have caused his fatal pancreatic cancer.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for adjudication of the appellant's claim for burial benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 2307, as this issue remains pending before VA.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant knowingly submitted fraudulent evidence to obtain VA benefits, and therefore her eligibility for such benefits is forfeited under 38 U.S.C.A. § 6103(a).

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the veteran's peptic ulcer disease, finding that the evidence did not show moderate constant symptoms or recurring episodes of severe symptoms more than once or twice per year.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA opinion regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected disabilities hastened or caused the veteran's death. The appellant must provide additional evidence before a determination can be made.

The veteran does not currently suffer from a post-traumatic stress disorder and the Board denies service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse due to her marriage not lasting at least one year before his death.

The Board found that the veteran's left index finger amputation was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including active duty for training and inactive duty for training.

The VA denied increased ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia patella, as well as bilateral plantar fasciitis. The veteran's knees are currently rated under Diagnostic Code 5014 (osteomalacia) based on limitation of motion.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the service-connected shell fragment wound of the mid-back, Muscle Group XXI, and awarded a separate 10 percent evaluation for a scar on the back.

The Board determined that the appellant's character of discharge from his period of service was a bar to VA compensation benefits, excluding VA health care benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left and right foot disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any condition to the veteran's military service.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected lower back strain with absent ankle reflexes, as his disability did not warrant a combined evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for varicose veins. The underlying merits of this claim will be deferred pending completion of further development.

The VA determined that the veteran's Raynaud's phenomenon is not related to his military service.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for heart attack residuals, claiming it was due to VA treatment. The case has been remanded because the claims file does not contain a complete set of records from his VA treatment at Little Rock, Arkansas VA Medical Center.