Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for service connection for left hip arthritis with total hip replacement, finding that it is related to his military service.

The July 11, 2002 decision denied service connection for cervical spine disability. The Veteran's current condition was not shown during service and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The VA determined that the Veteran's thoracic spine disability, characterized by right thoracic muscle spasm with slight loss of lordotic curve, does not warrant a higher than 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for left leg weakness is withdrawn.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on loss of use of the left foot is denied as no effective function remained other than that which would be equally well served by an amputation stump at the site of election below knee with use of a suitable prosthesis prior to March 21, 2006.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's respiratory disorder. The issues of whether the reduction in rating was proper and entitlement to TDIU are being addressed.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions and denied both claims for accrued benefits. The cause of death was abdominal cancer, which is not shown to be related to service.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for genital herpes from 60 percent to noncompensable was proper based on the evidence showing intermittent outbreaks affecting less than 5% of the entire body and not requiring systemic therapy.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected eye disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and the provision of adequate notice.

The Veteran died from esophageal cancer, which may be related to in-service radiation exposure. The VA is required to obtain a dose assessment and determine if the cause of death was due to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a skin disorder, including a skin disability of the hands and feet. The Veteran's uterine disorder is also found to be related to her military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for an extension of temporary total rating due to treatment for service-connected colectomy for diverticulitis requiring convalescence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on evidence of a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's fibrocystic breast disease was initially manifested during her second period of active service and is therefore granted service connection. The residuals of cryosurgery or colposcopy of the cervix are not considered to be incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's residuals of injuries resulting from a February 3, 1978, motor vehicle accident are not attributable to his military service and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his service-connected residuals of a status-post right lung thoracotomy with intermittent chest pain has been denied as there is no evidence of significant restrictive airway disease or an elevated right hemidiaphragm.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for leucopenia and/or leukemia as a result of radiation exposure during military service. The claim has been remanded due to the need to verify the claimed incident of in-service radiation exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his myelodysplasia and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further evidentiary development and readjudication, including consideration of newly submitted evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for generalized joint pain and muscle pains as qualifying chronic disabilities under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.