Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of service connection for a right index finger strain, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to an in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of tendon graft, fifth finger of right (major) hand do not warrant an increased disability rating in excess of the current 40 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have chronic malaria and did not have malaria during service or within one year of service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for malaria is denied.

The $400 monthly apportionment of the veteran's VA compensation benefits on behalf of [redacted], in the custody of his former spouse while qualifying as a dependent child for VA purposes was granted, and did not result in undue hardship to the veteran. The effective date for this apportionment is February 1, 2000.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for thoracic paraspinous muscle strain, finding that her disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the November 1984 decision does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including as due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran did not fracture his jaw during service and does not have a current tempromandibular joint disorder. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that there is no current medical diagnosis of a uterus condition and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for improved death pension benefits because her countable income exceeded the maximum annual income allowed by law for a surviving spouse without children.

The Board denied an increased rating for gastritis and service connection for a hernia, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection based on direct criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's memory loss did not occur during service and is not related to her military service, thus denying her claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's congenital foot disorder, which includes a congenital absence of the tibial sesamoid bone and shortening of first metatarsals in both feet, is not related to active service. Therefore, service connection for bilateral metatarsalgia secondary to this condition was denied.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a chemical injury to the eyes and recurrent skin rash of the neck, trunk, and arms. The veteran is now rated at 10 percent for his eye disability and 30 percent for his skin disorder.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA benefits due to her deceased spouse not meeting the service requirements to be considered a veteran.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation based on his service-connected fractures of the right hand and ulnar neuropathy.

The Board found that the veteran's Alzheimer's dementia was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for synovial sarcoma of the larynx, which he claimed was secondary to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not indicate any herbicide exposure during his service.

The Board finds that there is no current disorder of bilateral upper extremity weakness or memory loss due to service, and thus the veteran's claims for these conditions are denied.

The veteran's appeal for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a private facility on October 11, 2000 was denied as VA did not provide prior authorization and the VA medical facility in Boise, Idaho was feasibly available.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for the residuals of a left leg injury, which was previously denied in April 1966.