Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to his service-connected disabilities, and thus denied both the claim for service connection for cause of death and the claim for accrued benefits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including service connection issues and a VA examination.

The Board found that the termination of the veteran's total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability effective as of July 31, 1981 was proper due to his service-connected disabilities not preventing him from engaging in some form of gainful employment.

The veteran's appeal for service connection on two issues has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that recovery of the overpayment would be against equity and good conscience, thus granting the veteran's waiver of the overpayment of $6,329.44.

The Board granted the veteran's claim for service connection of a hiatal hernia as secondary to his service-connected Crohn's disease, status-post terminal ileum resection.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for residuals of a stress fracture of the right femoral neck is being remanded due to deficiencies in notification and the need for additional examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for actinic keratoses of multiple sites, including the arms, hands, face, and neck is being remanded due to incomplete development. The VA will obtain outpatient treatment records, schedule a dermatology examination, and consider the criteria under Diagnostic Codes 7800 and 7806.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA medical examination to determine if the veteran's herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-5 is related to or caused by his service-connected foot disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracic spine disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or to his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hair loss, joint pain, and shortness of breath are denied as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions are due to an undiagnosed illness related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the right lower extremity, finding that the disability is manifested by persistent edema and stasis pigmentation or eczema with intermittent ulceration.

The veteran seeks service connection for hearing loss, which he claims is due to noise exposure during his military service. The RO has ordered additional development including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The veteran's left knee disorders are currently evaluated at 20 percent for post-operative torn medial cartilage and cruciate ligament tear, and 10 percent for traumatic arthritis with limitation of motion. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating under these diagnostic codes.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his service-connected fractures of the right third, fourth and fifth fingers is being remanded due to changes in evaluation criteria and need for additional medical examination.

The Board denied the appellant's application to reopen his claim for basic eligibility for VA benefits based on qualifying service due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder is service-connected as it was incurred in service due to combat exposure.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, and arranging for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left foot disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her death benefits claim, finding that no new and material evidence was submitted and that her husband did not have qualifying service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her service-connected dysthymic disorder (claimed as anxiety disorder) was granted, with a current evaluation of 10 percent.