Other conditions decisions — 2007

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected injury to the right middle finger from January 1, 2004 to June 7, 2004 was denied.,His claim for a temporary evaluation of 100% based on surgical treatment necessitating convalescence from June 8, 2004 to December 31, 2005 was granted. However, his subsequent claims for an increased evaluation were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a spine disorder and calcified pleural plaques, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, as his need is primarily due to a non-service-connected cerebrovascular accident.

The Board determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran is appealing the propriety of his VA pension benefits from January 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004. The case has been remanded for further review and clarification.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia is not related to military service, including any in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis, finding no in-service incurrence or chronic symptomatology since service and thus denying the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of cold injuries to both hands, finding that these conditions are more likely than not incurred during service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a new hearing at the RO.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss. The claims of service connection for duodenitis and gastric ulcer, as well as bilateral hip arthritis, are remanded due to new evidence suggesting a possible secondary relationship to service-connected disabilities. The claim to reopen the tension headaches is also remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right foot fracture and an initial compensable rating for residuals of laparotomy scarring with incidental appendectomy, finding that the evidence did not support such ratings based on the current state of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent from June 29, 1998 through February 22, 2001; 20 percent from February 23, 2001 to March 14, 2005; and 30 percent thereafter. The veteran's service-connected residuals of a head injury, to include migraine headaches, were rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's hiatal hernia with peptic ulcer disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has found that the veteran's ulcerative colitis was incurred in service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for left ventricular hypertrophy and assigned a 60% rating, effective March 3, 2004. The veteran's heart disability is currently rated as 60%, the highest schedular rating available.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and enucleation of his right eye, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Board also found that the veteran's conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cataract of the right eye and an increased rating for macular degeneration of the left eye, secondary to retinal detachment. The decision found that there was no evidence linking the right eye cataract to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a disease or injury of the right leg during service, and concluded that any current disability is not related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 because the evidence was not new and material.