Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's heart disability, including atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hypertension. As a result, secondary service connection for a heart disability is granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further verification of his service dates and scheduling a Travel Board hearing at the Manila RO.

The Board found no competent evidence to show that the veteran currently has a diagnosis of meningitis or its residuals, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her left and right retropatellar pain syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current disability status.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and found that new and material evidence had been submitted. The case is remanded to further develop the stressor allegations.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the December 1970 rating decision that granted service connection for the veteran's gunshot wound to the right calf and assigned a single 30 percent disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hammer toe deformity of the left foot does not warrant a compensable initial evaluation, as it only affects two toes and there is no evidence of pain or other functional impairment.

The VA denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of a back injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, but denied the claim itself due to lack of evidence showing that his blindness contributed to his death.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been denied. Service connection has not been established for arthritis of the fingers, elbows, or hips, nor has a skin disorder of the scalp been linked to military service. The right lung disability is currently rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was not found to be related to his service, including exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The Board denied the claim due to lack of evidence of exposure to Agent Orange.

The VA medical treatment for the veteran's cancer did not involve any fault on VA's part, and there was no unforeseeable event that caused his death. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left varicocele and TMJ disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's small cell anaplastic carcinoma was not caused by service, and denied all claims.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding a disability rating for Bell's palsy, and the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The veteran's knee disabilities are currently rated as 20 percent for each knee, with a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension. The Board denied increased ratings.

The veteran's appeal is for a higher rating for his service-connected skin disease manifested by recurrent sebaceous cysts. The RO has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and schedule the veteran for a VA examination to assess the current status of his condition, including any secondary scarring.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cancer of the larynx was not incurred or aggravated during service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred, including on the basis of Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of evidence, including a need for an ophthalmologic examination and review of VA medical records.

The veteran's request for waiver of recovery of overpayment of VA pension benefits in the amount of $42,071.00 was timely filed.