Other conditions decisions — 2005

The VA determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's right hand disorder to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected myoclonic tic is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's appeal is on the issue of entitlement to a higher disability evaluation for his service-connected bilateral claw foot disorder. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code. The effective date issue is inextricably intertwined with the veteran's claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied service connection for chronic psychiatric disorders including depression and schizophrenia, and a compensable rating for scarring in the left supraorbital area. The veteran's waiver of overpayment claim was also denied due to bad faith.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection of type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, tinnitus and hearing loss disability due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions. The claim for waiver of recovery of overpayment of nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the veteran's pilonidal cyst.

The veteran is seeking service connection for arteriosclerosis, which the RO denied on the basis that it is not one of the presumptive conditions associated with exposure to herbicides. The Board has decided to remand the case for a VA nexus opinion.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination. The RO will also review the case based on all available evidence.

The Board has determined that the cause of the veteran's death (sepsis and congestive cardiac failure) is not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions, thus denying the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis was not incurred in service and could not be presumed to have been caused by Agent Orange exposure. The claim for direct service connection based on a current disability is also denied.

The VA denied an increased rating from 20 percent for a fracture of the first and fifth metacarpals of the right hand, as the evidence did not show favorable ankylosis of both the thumb and any finger.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and eligibility for VA death pension benefits due to a lack of competent evidence linking his death to his military service.

The veteran's post traumatic stress disorder results in total occupational impairment, and a total (100 percent) rating is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bunion of the left foot is not related to his service-connected plantar wart, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge, which was upgraded to 'under honorable conditions' in 1977 but later reviewed and deemed ineligible for VA benefits due to his prior misconduct, precludes entitlement to VA benefits.

The veteran's initial claim for a higher evaluation for his right inguinal hernia was granted, with a 10 percent rating effective from August 9, 2002.

The Board has determined that the appellant's mental condition is rapidly deteriorating, making her unable to manage her affairs and disburse funds without limitation. Therefore, a finding of incompetency is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice regarding what information and evidence is necessary to substantiate the claim of whether the appellant's income is excessive for the purpose of entitlement to payment of death pension benefits.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected postoperative residuals of an arthroplasty of the right middle finger was denied. The RO found that the disability did not meet criteria for a higher evaluation, as it manifested by slight limitation of motion and subjective complaints of pain without ankylosis or additional functional loss.