Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board has ordered further efforts to obtain the appellant's service medical records and personnel records. The case will be readjudicated after these records are obtained.

The Board found that the veteran's discharge was due to willful and persistent misconduct, specifically unauthorized absence from his military service. This resulted in a UOTHC (under other than honorable conditions) discharge, which constitutes a bar to VA compensation and pension benefits.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hallux rigidus, concluding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to the current condition.

The veteran's service-connected coin lesion, benign, left upper lobe, lung has been removed. The RO should consider whether the surgical excision resulted in residuals and determine if there is any aggravation of a pre-existing lung disorder.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected right hip greater trochanteric bursitis is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a medical examination.

The VA granted service connection for residuals of a right fourth finger fracture but did not assign any compensable rating.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for kyphoscoliosis with back pain. As a result, the claim remains denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sickle cell disease was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for its aggravation.

The veteran's appeal for a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability is being remanded to the RO for additional action.

The Board determined that the veteran had bad faith in creating an overpayment of $7,014 and thus waived recovery is precluded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lung disability, pulmonary lymphoma, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is unrelated to any exposure to asbestos. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a right arm disability, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hyperkeratotic skin lesions do not meet the criteria for a compensable initial evaluation, and thus denied her claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred a right ear injury during service and has established a link between this in-service injury and his current disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for residuals of a right ear injury is granted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to a lack of evidence linking his service-connected disabilities to his death from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's non-service-connected atrial fibrillation is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's disability of the spine, characterized by intervertebral disc disease and status post laminectomy, is rated at a maximum of 60 percent due to pronounced symptoms including pain, muscle spasm, and limitation of motion. The decision grants an increase in evaluation from 40 to 60 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation of his right elbow condition, which includes arthritis and a gunshot wound. The case will be readjudicated based on the new findings.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation from 20 percent to 30 percent for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee with chondromalacia and subluxation of the patella, effective November 18, 2005. The veteran is also entitled to a separate, compensable 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of each knee.