Other conditions decisions — 2006

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a variously diagnosed skin disorder, concluding that there was no evidence linking his current conditions to his active military service or Agent Orange exposure.

The VA denied an increased rating for the service-connected lung disability from September 7, 1995, to November 24, 1998. The current effective date is not specified.

The VA determined that the veteran's current condition, including any residuals of a viral infection, is not related to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected status post bunionectomy of the left hallux, currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence showed moderate impairment with pain and limited motion but no actual loss of use or severe disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's duodenal ulcer disease does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as there is no evidence of moderately severe impairment or recurrent incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current balance condition is not related to his service-connected left ear otitis media or hearing loss disorder, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and payment of accrued benefits on the basis of a grant of service connection for PTSD, effective from August 4, 1998. The special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound criteria for purposes of accrued benefits was not addressed in this decision.,The Board also denied the appellant's claim for an increased rate of death pension benefits due to her need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound, as these issues were not addressed in the decision.

The veteran's appeal for service connection of a right hip disorder has been dismissed due to his death.

The VA has determined that the veteran's abdominal pain and muscle strain do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as they are considered to be moderately severe.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current left hand and wrist arthritis to service, despite his assertions. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection for a left hand disorder. For the postoperative scar on the left wrist, the RO granted service connection but assigned a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge was under dishonorable conditions due to misconduct, which constitutes a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Board found no current disability of the hands and denied service connection for cold injury residuals of the hands. The issue of entitlement to service connection for cold injury residuals of the feet is addressed in a separate remand.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse, finding that she was not married to him at the time of his death and thus did not meet the legal requirements for such status.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain recent VA medical records and possibly schedule a VA examination. The goal is to determine if his ulcerative colitis (Crohn's disease) has worsened, which could affect the rating assigned.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury due to new and material evidence submitted since the February 2002 rating decision. However, the Board denied the claim as there is no medical nexus between any current disability and an inservice head injury.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation based on dependents was denied as she did not submit the required VA Form 21-686c and provide sufficient information regarding her children's dependency status.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 22, 2002, for the grant of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The decision found that the earliest date as of which the increase in disability was ascertainable is March 22, 2002.

The veteran's application for enrollment in the VA health care system was denied because it was received after January 17, 2003, and he did not meet the eligibility criteria as a nonservice-connected veteran.

The veteran's lung disease, specifically bullous emphysema and bronchiectasis, is currently rated at 30 percent. The VA has ordered further examination to determine the severity of his condition, including a pulmonary function test (PFT) for maximum exercise capacity.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for compliance with VCAA requirements and further development.