Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran did not have arthritis of the hands during service or within one year after discharge, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for aching joints and numbness of the hands as due to an undiagnosed illness, but denied these claims on the merits.

The veteran's right fifth metacarpal condition, which resulted in mild radial nerve sensory neuropathy, is now rated at 20 percent disabling.

The veteran's skin disorders, including actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma, are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are related to in-service sun exposure or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the reduction in rating from 100% to 20% for eosinophilic granuloma is appropriate and supported by evidence of improvement. The current residual symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's prostate adenocarcinoma status post brachytherapy was reduced from a 100 percent rating to a 20 percent rating effective October 1, 2004. The RO also granted an increased rating for the residuals of prostate cancer and assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation for erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected left foot causalgia, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an apportionment of the veteran's VA benefits, finding that it would create a hardship on the veteran and thus denying the appeal.

The Board found no residuals of cold injuries to the hands and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to an inadequate examination.

The veteran's left foot condition, manifested by healed fractures of the second and third metatarsals, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms, including pain and functional impairment on repetitive motion.

The Board found that the cause of death, intracerebral hemorrhage, was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability. The heart condition (atriial fibrillation with pacemaker) is considered presumptively related to service-connected rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hernia has not recurred, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria. As such, the claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected residuals of a bilateral hernia repair is denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's exposure to herbicides and to provide adequate notice regarding the claim. The case will be returned for further action.

The veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected end-stage liver disease has been established, allowing the appellant to receive special monthly compensation based on this condition.

The veteran is seeking to establish service connection for atrial fibrillation, which he contends is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the etiology of the heart condition and whether it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine if the veteran's low back disability is related to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hiatal hernia as there is no current diagnosis of this condition.

The Board found that the appellant's income exceeded the maximum allowable rate for VA death pension benefits, thus denying her claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not warrant a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a compound fracture of the left tibia and fibula, or any compensable rating for residuals of a compound fracture of the right fibula. The claims are therefore denied.