Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection of a spine disorder, neck disorder, and numbness in the legs, arms, and hands as secondary to his service-connected missile wound. The evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the veteran with proper VCAA notice.

The VA has determined that the veteran's digestive disorder warrants a 10 percent disability rating, which is the highest non-compensable rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The veteran's service-connected condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The Board found that the appellant was entitled to DIC benefits from August 1, 1996, but denied her request for an earlier effective date.

The Board found that the veteran's additional impairment of the heart was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a liver condition, but has denied the claim as there is no relationship between the veteran's service-connected reactive hypoglycemia and his diagnosed NASH.

The Board found no evidence of a duodenal ulcer in service or for many years thereafter, and it is not shown that the current condition is otherwise related to service.

The Board denied service connection for a lung condition secondary to the veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). The claim for an increased evaluation of CAD was also denied. The PTSD claim resulted in a continued 30 percent evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for lead poisoning residuals, including coronary artery disease and arthritis, finding no competent clinical evidence linking these conditions to active duty.

The veteran's child is currently receiving an apportionment of $64 per month from the VA. The appellant, who is the custodial parent and mother of the child, seeks an increase in this amount. The case has been remanded for further development to consider updated financial information.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of cold injuries and arthritis, are not related to service. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board found no evidence of a right elbow disability in service or for many years thereafter, and the competent and persuasive evidence established no nexus between such disability and the veteran's military service or his service-connected postoperative right (major) acromioclavicular repair. The claim for service connection for a right elbow disability was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's spondylolisthesis of L4-5 pre-existed service but was aggravated during service, warranting service connection.

The Board found no evidence of current disability related to the veteran's service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of mood disorder, right arm disorder, groin pain, and chest pain. As such, these claims remain denied.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for notification of what evidence would be required to substantiate the element or elements needed for service connection that were found insufficient in the prior denial on the merits, and then readjudicate the issue.

The Board has determined that additional records are needed and a medical examination is required to determine if the veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms are related to his service. The appeal will be remanded for these actions.

The appellant is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for cause of the veteran's death, which was granted in January 1996. The RO has denied this claim and the case is being remanded for further action.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, myelodysplastic syndrome, was not service-connected at the time of his death and thus denied service connection for cause of death.