Other conditions decisions — 2005

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of a left calf gunshot wound do not meet the criteria for an increased rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's dysthymia demonstrated findings of depressed mood, irritable affect, and crying spells but did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation as his symptoms did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral thigh disorder secondary to his service-connected residuals of rheumatic fever, finding that there was no evidence showing that the current condition was proximately due to or related to his service-connected disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of her deceased husband, preventing her from reinstating her VA death pension benefits.

The Board found that the appellant did not meet the criteria for recognition as a surviving spouse of the veteran, leading to denial of her claim.

The Board found that the veteran's lung disability, diagnosed as COPD and biapical bullous disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner opined that the veteran's current bullous lung disease did not have its origin during service and was not related to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for review of new evidence he submitted.

The veteran seeks service connection for surgical correction of mandibular prognathism. The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right hip, finding that his pain and associated functional loss warrant this higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that an examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the appellant's foot disorders. The claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing proper VCAA notice. The veteran's claim for service connection for lung disease is being reopened due to new evidence submitted, but his initial rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 0 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his chronic back strain and postoperative hiatal hernia are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The VA denied retroactive payment of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits for periods from September 1998 to September 2000, as the appellant's application was not submitted within one year of his eligibility date.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for left shoulder disability and an increased evaluation for a scar of the left knee due to his withdrawal of those claims. The claim for hairy cell leukemia was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of synostosis of the right radius and ulna (major).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for generalized arthritis.

The veteran's hypogammaglobulinemia warrants a 60% rating effective October 23, 1995. However, his gouty arthritis is not related to service or his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a back injury is denied as there is no evidence showing a link between his current condition and his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected bilateral degenerative osteoarthritic hips.

The Board has determined that the veteran's endometriosis is part of her underlying gynecological problems for which she already has service connection.