Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated by active duty and are not due to an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained multisymptom illness.

The veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected defective hearing, but the RO denied this claim based on recent VA examinations. The Board has ordered a remand to re-examine the veteran and determine if he suffers from other ear conditions that might be rated under different diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted an initial compensable rating of 10 percent for the service-connected status post left hand trauma with retained foreign body, considering it manifested by painful and tender scars over the ring and small fingers.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a pulmonary disorder, attributing it to insufficient medical evidence showing he currently has such a condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have the requisite service to qualify for VA benefits.

The case is being returned to the VA Medical Center for additional development regarding the veteran's clothing allowance claim.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's mood disorder with depressive features effective January 18, 2002. The veteran previously had a 30 percent evaluation prior to that date.

The veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated as 20 percent prior to November 1, 2005 and 10 percent effective November 1, 2005. The RO has not assigned a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a splenectomy, finding that there was no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of VA in causing the splenectomy.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice regarding reopening a claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's improved pension benefits were denied as of September 1, 2001 due to exceeding the statutory maximum income limit for a veteran with two dependents. The benefits were not reinstated for periods prior to the end of calendar year 2003.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for an interventricular septal defect with apical systolic murmur. The RO previously denied this claim in March 1978, finding no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right knee disorder, manifested by pain and some instability but with full range of motion, does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to lack of fault on the part of VA in providing medical treatment, and the resulting right elbow disability was a foreseeable consequence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to his service-connected disabilities, as he does not have permanent loss of use of one or both feet or vision impairment resulting in specific visual requirements.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of spinal meningitis and an increased evaluation for pilonidal cyst scarring. The veteran is not entitled to these benefits based on the evidence currently in the record.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia and pylori AB disabilities, finding that there is no current disability related to these conditions.

The veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially contributed to, by any disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The appellant did not file her application for accrued benefits within one year of the veteran's death.

The Board finds that the veteran's gout and related arthritis did not begin in service or shortly thereafter, and thus denies his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not timely file a Substantive Appeal regarding her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, and thus dismissed the appeal.