Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's current skin condition, diagnosed as neurofibromatosis type I, is not related to his service or exposure to Agent Orange. The left leg cellulitis during service resolved without residual disability and was unrelated to any subsequent skin condition.

The Board found that the veteran's character of discharge was a bar to VA benefits due to his Bad Conduct Discharge, which was issued under dishonorable conditions. The evidence submitted did not change this determination.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic otitis externa as secondary to the veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for otitis media and bilateral hallux rigidus are remanded due to lack of VA examination records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosis did not manifest during his active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The veteran's loss of teeth 8 and 9 due to dental trauma during service is found to be a result of service trauma, granting service connection for residuals of dental trauma resulting in the loss of these teeth.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for yeast infection and constant itching secondary to medication used to treat his service-connected acne, folliculitis. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for mechanical low back pain and service connection for L4-5 herniated disk with nerve compression are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a lung condition, which he claims may be due to asbestos exposure while on active duty. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and thus no longer has standing to pursue the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot disorder is service-connected, as it was caused by ill-fitting boots worn during military service.

The Board has determined that service connection is granted for residuals of a pilonidal cyst, but denied for the other conditions and issues.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for a dental disorder, including for VA outpatient dental treatment purposes, is denied as there is no evidence of service-connected compensable dental disability or trauma.

The Board found that the appellant did not file a timely substantive appeal of his claim for legal entitlement to VA benefits, and therefore dismissed the appeal.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the granting of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits is not warranted as there was no claim filed prior to June 24, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, was not caused by or related to his military service. The Board also found that the veteran's arthritis medications did not contribute to his death.

The Board denied a higher disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of fracture left tibia with traumatic arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right cubital tunnel syndrome does not warrant a higher disability evaluation, as it primarily manifests in pain and decreased sensation with no atrophy or significant impairment.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a back injury and is granting it. The evidence submitted since the last denial shows that the veteran had in-service treatment for back pain, which he now claims caused his current back disability.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right eye disability is denied as there is no evidence of a higher evaluation based on the current criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development, including verifying a claimed stressor event and scheduling an examination.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a mood disorder with mixed features. The RO has granted this claim but is now remanding to determine if there was clear and unmistakable error in prior decisions denying service connection.