Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran is seeking increased evaluations for his service-connected neurological impairment of the left and right lower extremities. The Board has remanded the case to allow for a medical opinion differentiating between the symptoms related to his service-connected condition and those related to non-service connected conditions.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's duodenal ulcer with duodenitis and esophagitis, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for this higher evaluation.

Your claim for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 has been dismissed because service connection for the cause of your death has already been granted, and there is no potential for additional benefit under this section.

The veteran's nasal deformity is service-connected, but his right thumb and left fifth finger disabilities are not rated higher than the current 10%.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service connection for a stomach ulcer and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to the creation of an overpayment and the waiver request. The appellant's address in Florida needs to be updated, and a supplemental statement of the case should be issued.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for a medical examination to determine if reduced radiation doses due to retained shrapnel in the veteran's chest contributed to his death.

The Board granted increased ratings for the right knee and index finger disabilities, with a 30% rating assigned for the right knee disability beginning January 1, 2002.

The Board found that the total colectomy with end ileostomy was not caused by VA's failure to diagnose and treat a perirectal abscess, but rather due to the veteran's underlying pre-existing ulcerative colitis.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the appellant's eligibility for death pension benefits as an adult helpless child of her deceased father. The claim will be remanded to allow for further investigation and medical opinion.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a neck injury is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and determine the etiology of any current neck disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed skin condition, tumors of the right leg and back, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or any incident therein. The claims for chronic rotator cuff disease of the right shoulder and an extensive tear of the supraspinatus tendon of the right shoulder are also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of multiple joints was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse, finding that her marriage to the veteran was terminated by divorce prior to his death and thus she is not considered a valid surviving spouse under VA regulations.

The Board granted the veteran's request to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for peptic ulcer disease based on new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The VA determined that the veteran's right thumb injury does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The veteran's claim of reopening his service connection for back injuries is pending.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to the need to verify service in the National Guard and conduct a VA examination.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including obtaining all outstanding VA and private medical records.

The veteran seeks to reopen a claim for service connection for psychoneurosis. The RO determined that the veteran's disability preexisted service and was not aggravated therein, leading to the severance of service connection. The case is being remanded to address whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.