Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings for various conditions, finding no current disabilities related to her service-connected conditions or other claimed exposures.

The Board has determined that the veteran's malignant mesothelioma is service-connected, with the link to asbestos exposure during his military service being considered direct.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a skin disability and entitlement to TDIU, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the skin disability claim and concluding that the veteran is not entitled to a TDIU due to his already assigned 100% schedular rating for PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation program benefits were properly discontinued due to his unsatisfactory conduct and cooperation in developing and implementing a rehabilitation plan.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The most persuasive medical opinion concluded that SLE did not manifest during or within one year after his discharge from active duty in May 1991.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed neck, left leg, and head injuries were not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claims.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits, and no disability rating or effective date will be assigned in this case.

The Board has granted service connection for a back strain, finding that the veteran's current disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board has ordered additional development to be completed, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and a VA medical facility in Millington, Tennessee. The case will be remanded for further consideration.

The VA has determined that the veteran's residuals of poliomyelitis do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as the evidence does not show active disease or significant motor weakness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected pelvic inflammatory disease is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating allowed under VA regulations.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a right leg disability, which the Board has remanded due to several procedural issues and the need for additional evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for deficient color perception (color blindness) is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the examiner's opinion regarding whether any remote incident of his military service aggravated his condition beyond natural progression.

The Board has determined that the veteran's nasal disability, which includes a fractured nose and subsequent rhinoplasty, does not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6502.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the November 1997 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury.

The veteran's left foot condition, which includes arthritis and a stress fracture with nonunion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found the evidence did not support an increase in evaluation beyond this level.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the Dependents' Educational Assistance claim.

The Board found that the appellant's countable income exceeded the maximum annual income for improved death pension benefits, and thus her non-service-connected death pension benefits were properly terminated.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and arranging for an examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's eye disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these steps are completed.