Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board denied service connection for colon cancer and polyps, finding no evidence of a current disability or link to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice, and the veteran needs to provide evidence demonstrating a chronic back disability in service.

The Board found that the April 1947 rating decision did not clearly and unmistakably err in assigning a single 40 percent evaluation for left hand impairment, including ankylosis of the wrist. The claim for CUE was denied.

The Board has reopened the claim based on new evidence submitted since the 1983 rating decision, but it remains unclear whether service connection will be granted as the evidence does not establish a clear link between the veteran's current back strain and his military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant was permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching the age of 18, qualifying as a helpless child for VA benefits.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, congestive heart failure due to pituitary adenoma, was not caused by his service-connected disabilities or any other condition attributable to service. The Board determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's pituitary adenoma to his military service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, as no competent medical evidence linked the cause of death (acute myelogenous leukemia) to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied service connection for a left foot injury and granted a 100% rating for PTSD from October 1, 1995 to May 2, 2005. The veteran's PTSD was productive of total social and industrial impairment during this period.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication of referred claims, including those related to dental condition, memory loss, hyperparathyroidism, and sterility. The increased rating claim for residuals of service-connected pharynx cancer will be held in abeyance pending final determination on these issues.

The veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for TDIU due to it going 'far too long' and asked that VA 'just drop the whole thing'. The Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of current Hodgkin's disease and the veteran's reported symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for lymphadenitis. Therefore, service connection for Hodgkin's disease is denied.

The veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for a right foot infection secondary to the right great toe fracture residuals disability and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for the residuals of the right great toe fracture. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to this withdrawal.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for dengue fever, as there is no current residual of the disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ulnar nerve disability warrants a 60 percent rating, effective September 29, 2003.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for avascular necrosis of the right hip, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development of his service-connected left hand disability, including a review of medical records and examinations to determine the severity of his symptoms and whether he should be evaluated separately for a compensable evaluation for a scar.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess whether the veteran meets the criteria for PTSD and if it can be related to seeing his fellow servicemember wounded after self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim regarding his character of service and found that new evidence supports reopening the case. However, the character of discharge remains a bar to VA compensation benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left third finger deformity is related to his military service and has granted service connection for this condition.