Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran's appeal is being returned to the RO for a Video Conference hearing. The claim of denial of payment for emergency room and outpatient treatment at a non-VA hospital will be further reviewed.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with a total gastrectomy is service-connected due to exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's stroke and presbyopia are service-connected, with a rating of 100% for the stroke.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, specifically pneumonia.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain medical records and verify the circumstances of the veteran's death.

The VA determined that the veteran's right eye disorder, including amblyopia, was not incurred or aggravated by his period of active military service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic hypercholesteremia and elevated cholesterol level are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a chronic disability. The claim for increased evaluation of chronic headaches prior to February 9, 2004 is granted.

The veteran's service-connected patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right and left knees are currently rated at 10 percent each, effective July 1993.

The VA determined that the veteran's current right eye problems, including decreased visual acuity, are not related to his service and were more likely caused by a retinal vein occlusion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to address the relationship between his service-connected gastrointestinal issues and other disabilities, as well as to clarify his understanding of what evidence he needs to provide.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of basic eligibility for VA benefits, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen her previously denied claim.

The veteran's pension claim was denied because his income exceeded the maximum allowable for pension benefits.

The Board found no evidence to support service connection for bilateral heel spurs and denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his tibia stress fractures.

The veteran's left knee disability, including anterior cruciate ligament tear and traumatic arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no basis for a higher rating based on the current evidence.

The VA examiner determined that the veteran's eye disorder is not related to service, specifically his time stationed in Greenland. The condition was found to be consistent with end-stage Stargardt's disease and unlikely to have been caused by exposure to sunlight or other conditions during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral foot disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the claims for residuals of a back injury, including spina bifida, degenerative disc disease, and arthritis. The claim for service connection for labyrinthitis is reopened.

The Board has granted service connection for impairment of the frontal lobe of the brain, finding it related to a head injury in service. Service connection for a spinal cord disability was denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for dental trauma to tooth number 19, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The VA determined that the veteran's right eye disability warranted a 10 percent evaluation, effective from June 2, 2001 to March 24, 2003, and again from February 6, 2004 forward.