Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's eye disorders are not related to his active service and have denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, which was denied in June 1998. The appellant claimed that her husband died due to exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) and nerve gas exposure (Mustard/Lewisite).

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, specifically heel contusions. The Board found no evidence in the SMRs indicating any such condition during active service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including schizoaffective disorder or any other nervous condition, is being remanded due to the need for further verification of his National Guard service and additional medical records.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of inguinal hernia, service connection for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hiatal hernia and vision loss. The evidence does not support the assignment of a compensable rating for status post bilateral inguinal hernia repair under Diagnostic Code 7338.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee condition, which was rated at 10 percent prior to August 25, 2000, resulted in a grant of a 30 percent rating effective from that date.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and rating for varicose veins of both legs, as well as his claims for other conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain SSA records and schedule a new VA examination.

The veteran's service connection claim for a surgical scar on her right breast is granted. Her increased evaluation and effective date claims are denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bladder disorder and a digestive system disorder, as well as his claim for an increased rating for his left wrist scar. The RO previously granted service connection for the left wrist scar but did not grant the requested increase in rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a right orchiectomy is denied as there was no evidence of aggravation during service and the procedure was performed to ameliorate an existing condition.

The veteran's soft tissue sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma was not incurred in active service and may not be presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Board has determined that a remand is required due to insufficient exposure documentation, and the case will be referred to the Under Secretary for Benefits for review.

The VA determined that the veteran's shell fragment wound of the right posterior thorax area with retained foreign body does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent evaluation.

The Board found that the appellant's deceased husband was discharged under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, which bars her from receiving VA death pension benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reinstate her death pension benefits due to a lack of legal basis, as reinstatement is limited to specific benefits and not death pension benefits.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for further action, including obtaining a translation of the appellant's statement and considering new evidence.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for dental disorders other than those affecting teeth 23, 25, and 26 due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of chemical burns of the left foot, as there is no evidence showing limitation of motion or scars exceeding one-half square foot.

The appellant does not meet the eligibility criteria as the surviving spouse of the veteran for VA death pension benefit purposes.