Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran does not have arthritis of either hand or hip, and his claims for service connection are denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins of the left lower extremity, as they believe there is no competent medical evidence linking this condition to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's disability rating from 30% to 10% for his service-connected genitourinary disability was proper, effective December 1, 2004.

The veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill is denied as he did not meet the legal requirements for such benefits.

The VA determined that the veteran's adjustment disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as his symptoms are mild and do not significantly impair his occupational or social functioning.

The Board finds that the appellant's initial informal or incomplete claim for DEA benefits was received in July 2003, within one year of the September 2002 rating decision granting retroactive eligibility for DEA. The Board also finds that his completed claim was subsequently received in September 2003, within one year of his informal or incomplete claim. Therefore, the appellant is eligible and entitled to retroactive Chapter 35 educational assistance.

The veteran's claim for educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) for a year of experience at an accounting firm is denied because his employer has not been approved as a training establishment by the State approving agency.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, as his need for glasses is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for AIDS/HIV, as there was no credible evidence linking the current condition to his military service.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records from the veteran's release from service in December 1945 to June 2000. The case will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, fungal endocarditis, was not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his ulcerative colitis and psoriasis, finding that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable criteria.

The Board denied service connection for squamous papilloma of the bilateral true vocal cords and diverticulitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a left arm disability, which was previously denied in December 1991.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 50 percent for the veteran's mycosis (skin disorder) of the hands, feet, and face.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right middle finger injury residuals, finding that the evidence supports a link between his in-service injury and current symptoms.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current diagnoses of impotence and vascular disease to his military service, including any service-connected conditions. Therefore, the claims for service connection are denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a chronic right elbow disability that was incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination results and requests for additional development, including a new VA examination.