Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's left middle finger fracture residuals did not meet the criteria for an initial compensable evaluation, as there was no evidence of any functional impairment or limitation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including providing notice to the appellant regarding her entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral arms, legs, or hips and therefore service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against service connection for degenerative neuropathies and ankylosing spondylosis, as these conditions are not shown to be related to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of left hand and ear, and precancerous actinic keratoses of the skin do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable VA disability evaluation criteria.

The veteran's pilonidal cyst excision scar is rated at 10 percent since August 16, 2002. No higher rating is warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed colon cancer is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a left eye injury, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for sinus tachycardia, finding no underlying disability and thus not warranting service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's right kidney disability did not result from disease or injury incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for pension benefits, finding that his prior September 1976 application was abandoned due to failure to provide requested income information. The effective date of February 13, 2003, is upheld.

The Board has granted a separate 50 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected cognitive disorder, effective from November 7, 1996. The decision also addressed other issues related to PTSD and TDIU.

The Board found that the veteran's PTSD is not related to his military service and denied his claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the appellant's spouse's service is dishonorable and therefore a bar to receiving non-service-connected death pension benefits.

The veteran's service-connected right distal tibia stress fracture is currently rated as noncompensably disabling. The Board found no basis to grant an increased evaluation under any potentially applicable criteria.,There is no medical evidence or diagnosis that relates the veteran's left shin disorder directly to his military service. Therefore, the claim for direct service connection for a left shin disorder was denied.

The VA determined that the appellant did not have qualifying service in order to be eligible for VA benefits and denied his claim for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected disability pension.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to a failure to provide proper notice under the duty to notify.

The Board has granted a compensable rating of 20 percent for the veteran's sacroiliac dysfunction and right hip disorder, as well as a noncompensable rating for his service-connected costochondritis. The claim for a compensable rating on the basis of multiple noncompensable disabilities is moot.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for cancer of the right breast and an increased evaluation for migraines. The claim for service connection was denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to active duty service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The claim for an increased evaluation for migraines was granted but at the minimum schedular rating.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of ALS involving his upper extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his active military service.