Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension, finding that he did not have 90 days or more of active duty service during a period of war. The RO previously denied his claim in January 1999 and found no new and material evidence to reopen it.

The Board denied the Veteran's petitions to reopen service connection for a fractured jaw and umbilical and ventral hernias, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right forearm injury.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right mandible fracture is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of functional loss caused by pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral syndrome with tibial stress reaction of the left and right knee were denied. The RO assigned a 10 percent rating for each knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left and right chondromalacia patella were denied by the Board.

The Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease with left ventricular hypertrophy was rated at 30 percent effective February 11, 1993. A separate 10 percent rating for hypertension effective October 17, 2000, was assigned. The appellant is not entitled to a higher initial rating or a greater disability rating for hypertension prior to his death.

The Veteran's paresis of the right lower extremity, right upper extremity, and left lower extremity have been rated at their maximum under applicable diagnostic codes. No higher ratings are warranted.

The Veteran's coccyx pain syndrome is manifested by constant pain in the coccyx area, and he currently receives a 10 percent evaluation for this condition. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant an increase in rating.

The Veteran's residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right chest are rated at 20 percent, and service connection for fibrosis is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ulcerative colitis, as secondary to PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to issues related to service connection for cause of death and basic eligibility for educational benefits under Chapter 35. The appellant is seeking service connection for the Veteran's colon cancer, which may be secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits as she remarried after her husband's death, and thus is not eligible for such benefits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome with pes anserine bursitis is reasonably shown to have been aggravated by her period of active duty for training (ACDUTRA). As a result, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran does not have arthritis or fibromatosis of the feet, bilaterally. The VA and private medical records do not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding the appellant's marital status and current eligibility for apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic left hydronephrosis is a result of injury suffered during his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for non-service-connected pension benefits because he did not meet the threshold eligibility requirement of having served during a period of war.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's current back disorder is related to his service, including any in-service injury. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for an equilibrium disability, which was previously denied in January 2003. The reopened claim will now be reviewed on its merits.