Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left thigh, as there was no evidence of muscle, tendon, bone, artery, nerve, or joint damage, and the disability was manifested by subjective complaints of pain, stiffness, and numbness without more severe objective findings.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for gum disease, as there is no current disability and the condition is not recognized by applicable regulations as a disability for which VA compensation may be granted.

The Board denied service connection for a dental disorder, to include dental trauma due to exposure to contaminated water.

The Board granted service connection for a right eye disability and denied the claim of service connection for multiple joint pains, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claims for service connection for the residuals of injuries to his right and left eyes, cardiovascular disease, and cataracts were denied. The veteran was also denied an increased rating for diabetes mellitus with cataracts, but granted a 40% rating since January 23, 2007, and separate ratings for peripheral neuropathy in the lower and upper extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for L2 and L4 compression fracture with kyphoplasty and osteoporosis, as these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service or as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The veteran was granted a 40 percent evaluation for the service-connected lower back strain as of September 1, 2005.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected lower back pain are being remanded for additional development.

The claim for service connection for a left eye disorder was reopened, but the veteran's current left and right eye disorders were not found to be related to his period of active service.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left elbow and left femur disabilities are being remanded to the RO for further development.

The veteran is granted special monthly pension for aid and attendance effective February 13, 2006.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of one or both breasts was denied as there is no basis for an earlier effective date.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of left foot fractured metatarsal heads, second, third, and fourth toes are rated at 10 percent due to moderate disability.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the previously denied claim.

The Board found that the appellant's deceased spouse did not have recognized service and was therefore not a veteran, denying eligibility for VA death benefits.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death as there was no evidence that the conditions causing his death were related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for calendar year 2004 was denied, and the matter is being remanded to schedule an RO hearing.

The veteran's panic disorder does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent as it results in occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.