Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the left index finger warrant an initial 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's vitreous floaters in his left eye are likely due to an injury sustained during active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's single service-connected disability (anatomical loss of the right eye) has not prevented him from maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, and thus denied his claim for a TDIU.

The veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum is productive of neither 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passage on both sides nor complete obstruction on one side, and thus does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss, finding no evidence of a chronic disability due to an undiagnosed illness from his Gulf War service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, finding that the veteran's death was not due to negligence or an unforeseen event during VA treatment.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking any in-service injury or disease to the conditions that caused his death.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left nostril, finding it likely due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 30 percent for cold injury residuals of the left and right feet, effective from when the claim was filed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than July 17, 2003, for a 10 percent disability rating for his service-connected right shoulder disorder. The evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The veteran's claim for service connection for numbness of the lower extremities on a secondary basis is being remanded due to conflicting evidence and need for additional development. The issues regarding restoration of a 60 percent evaluation for postoperative herniated intervertebral disc, L4-5 on the right and entitlement to an increased rating for the low back disability are also held in abeyance.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a nervous disorder, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange. The VA physicians concluded that there was no medical evidence showing a link between his service-connected psoriasis and his diagnosed anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of the veteran's dysthymic disorder and its impact on his employability.