Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Veteran's right zygomatic fracture residuals have been rated as noncompensably disabling since May 11, 2005. The Board found no evidence of compensable disability based on the current symptoms and findings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left eye blindness, finding that there was no link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board found that the appellant and the Veteran did not enter into a valid common law marriage, leading to the denial of her claim for recognition as the surviving spouse.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that this rating was not appropriate and denied his claim for an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right inguinal hernia is not well-supported by a belt and therefore does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation beyond 10 percent.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his current skin disorder, including Morgellons Disease, was incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Veteran does not have lichen planus that is attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's chronic cellulitis of the scalp has not affected more than 20 percent of his exposed areas and has not required intermittent systemic therapy such as corticosteroids for a total duration of more than six weeks during the past 12-month period. Therefore, he is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current generalized furunculosis disability and therefore, there is no basis for a compensable rating. The claim for service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the scalp was denied as there is no competent medical evidence to support this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a colon disability with frequent urination was denied. The claims for increased ratings for cervical, lumbosacral, and thoracic spine disabilities were also denied.

The Veteran did not meet the statutory duration requirements for a total disability rating at the time of his death, and thus the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board found that the appellant was not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits due to inconsistencies in her statements regarding their marital history and separation.

The Board denied all issues related to service connection and rating for erectile dysfunction, arthritis of the right foot, retinopathy, and cognitive disorder. The Veteran's son was found permanently incapable of self-support.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right superior pubic ramus have not met the criteria for higher initial disability ratings in either period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the loss of her original claims file. The RO must conduct a search for the missing file and readjudicate the effective date issues.

The Board found no evidence of a lung disability in service and concluded that any current lung disabilities are not related to service, including asbestos exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability, characterized as fallen arches with calluses, contracted toes, and left foot bone deformity, is productive of overall impairment consistent with pronounced disability by analogy to rating criteria for bilateral flatfeet. The Veteran is therefore entitled to a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Raynaud's disease is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of cold injuries, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The VA determined that the Veteran does not have a current stomach disorder related to his military service.