Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for numbness/spasm of the right lower extremity, including as secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, is being remanded due to incomplete medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his claimed symptoms in the right leg.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for degenerative joint disease of the right hip has been granted. Service connection for a facial skin disorder, claimed as dry skin of the face, has also been established.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required before deciding the veteran's claims for burial and plot or interment benefits.

The Veteran's claim for increased evaluation of right eye vision loss and service connection for a left eye disorder was denied. The Board found that the current evidence did not support an increase in rating or service connection.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for cardiomyopathy was granted at 60 percent prior to March 28, 2006. However, the claim for a higher evaluation than 30 percent is denied from that date forward.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic eye disability. The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was denied as the earliest date of entitlement is November 16, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a broken nose, left eye disorder, and bilateral hearing loss were dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not related to service.

The appellant's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's bladder disorder is considered an additional disability resulting from VA surgical treatment, and the Board finds that this condition was not reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for the bladder disorder is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right arm disorder and a left leg disorder, finding that there is no evidence of additional disorders in these areas. The Board also found that any psychiatric disorder is not related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected residuals of right fourth finger amputation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current spinal injury is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant can be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes, based on her continuous cohabitation with the Veteran until his death and other supporting documents.

The Veteran's service-connected Pelligrini-Steida disease with joint mouse, arthritis, status post right total knee arthroplasty of the right knee is currently rated at 60 percent. The RO granted a temporary 100 percent disability rating effective May 4, 2004 due to total right knee arthroplasty and assigned a permanent 60 percent rating from July 1, 2005.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of head trauma, diagnosed as vascular dementia, is granted.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination and readjudication of the claim.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for a genitourinary disability, claimed as a prostate disorder. The Veteran's other claims were also denied.