Other conditions Board decisions

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a thoracic spine disability, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence linking any in-service injury to his current condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by a service-connected condition (bilateral varicose veins) and has granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected traumatic evulsion injury to left ring finger resulting in amputation and removal of the metacarpal bone, finding that a timely substantive appeal was not received.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cause of death, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), is related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange. As such, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for histiocytic lymphoma and Bowen's disease, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or other conditions that would support a grant of service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of head trauma, but it is not granted as there is no new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a skin condition, claimed as due to mustard gas exposure. The evidence submitted since the May 1997 decision is new and material.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin rash of the hands and feet is being remanded due to the expansion of theories of entitlement. The RO must consider all pertinent theories including as due to Agent Orange exposure, cold weather injury, or secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The veteran's disabilities do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes due to his age, education, and employment background.

The VA denied increased disability ratings for traumatic arthritis of the left great toe and residuals from excision of the left great toenail, finding that current evidence did not warrant higher evaluations.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The RO determined that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the forfeiture of all rights, claims, and benefits (except insurance benefits) under laws administered by VA. The appellant's claim regarding his service connection for injuries in Bataan was also denied.

The veteran's use of 44 months and 4 days under Chapter 31 does not preclude his entitlement to 36 months of assistance under Chapter 30.

The veteran seeks to reopen his claim for service connection for post-gastrectomy malignant lymphoma allegedly caused by mustard gas exposure during military service. The RO previously denied the claim in August 1994, finding no evidence of mustard gas exposure and noting that the condition was diagnosed years after service. New evidence submitted since then includes a statement from the veteran's doctor and articles on mustard gas, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The veteran's partial amputation of the left middle fingertip was granted a 10% rating from May 31, 2000 to August 8, 2000. After that date, his condition did not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to urinary incontinence is being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the earliest possible date of claim for service connection is April 5, 2001. As such, an effective date of April 5, 2001, was granted for the veteran's entitlement to service connection for loss of bowel control.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an increased evaluation, maintaining the current rating of 30 percent for left glenohumeral joint with degenerative joint disease, tendonitis, and ankylosis.

The Board found that the veteran's respiratory disorder was not incurred in service and denied his claim.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the VAHCC in El Paso, Texas. The case will be returned to the Board after this additional development.