Other conditions decisions — 2006

The veteran's onychomycosis and bilateral cataracts are not service-connected. The Board has assigned a 10 percent rating for diabetic retinopathy, the minimum evaluation under Diagnostic Code 6006.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of November 5, 1999 for a 50 percent rating for residual skull loss from a shell fragment wound is granted based on the finding that there was clear and unmistakable error in the January 1969 rating decision.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 60 percent for his duodenal ulcer, post-gastrojejunostomy and service connection for a hernia secondary to his service-connected duodenal ulcer. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for bilateral visual loss due to eye surgery performed at a VA facility in May 1999. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed hydronephrosis is not related to his service, specifically the right kidney surgery performed in September 1968. As a result, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from his period of active duty from April 1949 to August 1957 constituted a bar to Department of Veterans Affairs benefits based on that period of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cold injuries to his hands incurred during service have resulted in current residuals, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the April 1997 decision granting Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits as the surviving spouse of the veteran was clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus finding in favor of terminating those benefits.

The case is being remanded for the appellant to provide specific information about her income and unreimbursed medical expenses, including dates of payment. The claim will be readjudicated based on this updated information.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left leg and residuals of a bayonet wound to the left hand, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The veteran's coronary atherosclerosis and subsequent death from cardiac arrhythmia are not considered to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities, including the residuals of shell fragment wounds to his lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence and VCAA compliance issues.

The Board found that the effective date for the TDIU should be September 22, 2000, but not earlier. The veteran's service-connected disabilities made him unemployable since September 2000.

The Board has determined that the veteran's duodenal ulcer disease with gastritis warrants a 20 percent rating, reflecting moderate impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for a left eye disability secondary to his right eye enucleation and an increased evaluation for his right eye enucleation, finding no evidence supporting these claims.

The veteran's cause of death was cardio-respiratory arrest; lethal cardiac arrhythmia and/or myocardial heart attack; severe coronary/cardiomyopathy. The Board found no evidence linking the service-connected prostate cancer to his death, thus denying the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's service-connected adenocarcinoma of the prostate is currently rated at 10 percent disabling effective August 1, 2001. The RO increased his evaluation to this level from March 16, 2001.