Other conditions decisions — 2006

The veteran's esophageal cancer was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected duodenal ulcer. The veteran's duodenal ulcer did not warrant a higher rating, and he was not individually unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for back injury residuals, and thus the claim is granted.

The Board found that the veteran did not file a claim for service connection for Crohn's disease prior to April 18, 2003. Therefore, the effective date of the grant of service connection is denied.

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 VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, claiming it as rashes. The Board found no evidence linking the current skin disorder to his military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's loss of all maxillary (upper) teeth is not service-connected, as it is due to advanced periodontal disease and not related to his service-connected mandible fracture.

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

The Board found that the veteran does not have complete atrophy of both testicles, and thus, the criteria for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7523 are not met. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for left varicocele is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not experience any foot or hand problems residual to in-service cold injuries and therefore, no compensable ratings are warranted for these conditions.

The appellant is not eligible for VA DIC benefits as a matter of law due to her remarriage before the age of 57, and she has no legal basis to receive these benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current floaters in both eyes are a result of service, and thus grants service connection for an eye disability.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for his dermatophytosis (skin disorder) as their medical evidence did not show that at least 5% but less than 20% of the entire body or exposed areas were affected, and no systemic therapy was required.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an effective date earlier than May 20, 2002 for the reinstatement of DIC benefits due to lack of a claim within one year of her second husband's death.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and entitlement to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence linking the veteran's death to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking his cardiorespiratory failure to his military service.

The veteran seeks service connection for post-operative residuals of a hemilaryngectomy due to carcinoma of the larynx, which he claims is related to his exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam. The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the veteran's claimed service in Vietnam and to determine if the presumptive provisions for Agent Orange exposure apply.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her eligibility for non-service-connected disability pension benefits, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a groin injury, finding no evidence of a current disability and no medical opinion linking any such condition to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected cold injury residuals, including any associated peripheral neuropathy.