Other conditions decisions — 2005

The VA has determined that the veteran's bilateral defective hearing does not warrant an increased evaluation, as his current average decibel loss and speech recognition ability do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for a chronic acquired left eye disorder and the evaluation in excess of 10 percent for eczema of the hands.

The veteran's initial ratings for atrophy of the right optic nerve have been denied as his visual impairment does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional information and explanation of opinions to form a better basis for a decision regarding an increased evaluation for residuals of encephalitis and TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a chronic skin disorder, but it is denied as there is no evidence showing a direct relationship between the veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for malaria, finding no competent evidence that he had malaria in service or during the initial post-service year.

The Board found that the veteran does not have temporomandibular joint syndrome and denied her claim for service connection as secondary to post-traumatic stress disorder.

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

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no service connection is granted as the issue has been moot.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to revoke forfeiture of VA death benefits, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including locating the appellant and T.J.S., obtaining their responses to a VCAA letter, arranging for a medical examination of T.J.S., and then readjudicating the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete service medical records and additional witness statements.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and medical records to determine if the veteran's nicotine dependence during service led to his current emphysema.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skull loss does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent. The intracranial complications are rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 8045. The veteran's scarring and sciatica do not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic-stress-disorder and granted it, based on evidence of a current diagnosis resulting from in-service stressor events.

The Board denied service connection for a left eye disability, finding that the current condition is not related to service and cannot be presumed due to radiation exposure. The veteran's pre-existing deformity of the maxillary bone was surgically treated during service but did not result in a compensable disability.

The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not contribute to the veteran's death and denied both the cause of death claim and the DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to additional evidence received by the appellant. The claims will be reconsidered based on all available evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a back injury, but denied both his new and material evidence claim as well as his request for an increased rating for bilateral defective hearing. The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that the current back disability or hearing loss are related to military service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected neck and lower back disabilities are being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations.