Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 60 percent for lichen simplex chronicus, effective August 30, 2002. The veteran's service-connected skin condition was not found to be due to exposure to any specific hazard or presumption.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection by aggravation of a pre-existing head injury and for an effective date prior to April 1, 1998 for tinnitus. The claim for increased rating for tinnitus was also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current low back disorders are not related to his active service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical examination to determine the current status of the veteran's disabilities, including right patellofemoral pain syndrome and ruptured ligament of the right fifth finger.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower and upper extremity Dupuytren's nodules, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran did not incur multiple shrapnel wounds due to any incident of active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected traumatic encephalopathy and compound fracture of the left humerus, finding that the evidence did not warrant an increase in disability ratings.

The Board found no evidence of a currently diagnosed chronic bilateral eye condition related to military service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain Social Security Administration records and refer the case for an opinion from an oncologist regarding exposure to chemicals during active duty for training. The claim will be remanded for further development.

The VA determined that the veteran's gynecological disorder, including a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, was not incurred in service or due to an incident of service origin. The Board found no evidence linking her current condition to her military service.

The Board found that the veteran's current fungal infections, both internal and external, are not related to his service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is linked to any incident during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of left inguinal hernia repair do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA's Schedule for Rating Disabilities.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected dermatophytosis does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that there was no reasonable possibility that his NHL was caused by his exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right eye disorder and service connection for left eye macular degeneration, to include as secondary to his right eye disorder, are intertwined. Therefore, the RO must adjudicate these issues before addressing the issue of a higher rating for his right eye disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right knee disability warrants a 20 percent evaluation based on dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. The appeal for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and de novo review by the RO, as requested by the appellant. The appeal will be returned to the RO for consideration of all evidence in the claims folder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue, finding that there was no chronic fatigue disability separate from his already service-connected Hodgkin's disease.

The Board found that the veteran's estranged spouse was entitled to an apportionment of $25.00 per month from his VA disability compensation benefits, effective December 1, 2002.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that esophageal cancer was not related to his active duty service.