Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA benefits as a dependent of the veteran, finding that she was not entitled to such benefits due to her separation from the veteran and lack of reasonable support contributions.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint since July 22, 1999. The previous ratings were 20 percent (initial), 30 percent (prior to November 21, 1997), and 40 percent (effective July 22, 1999).

The Board has determined that the veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic joint disorder or an undiagnosed chronic disability manifested by finger swelling, and thus denied service connection for the claimed condition.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound of the left lower leg, effective July 1, 2002. The previous rating was 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board has determined that the veteran is not entitled to an effective date prior to January 4, 2001 for the grant of service connection for the residuals of a gunshot wound to the left foot as his claim was received more than one year after separation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's vascular disability of the right lower extremity is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hip disorder was not incurred or aggravated during service and is unrelated to his service-connected right knee disorder. As a result, the claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of multiple basal cell carcinomas, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active service and could not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that myocardial infarction and cardiovascular disease were not incurred in or aggravated by military service nor may these disorders be presumed to have been incurred in service.

The appellant's income exceeded the statutory limit for nonservice-connected death pension benefits, and she is therefore not entitled to such benefits.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied service connection for dental trauma, finding no evidence of a current disability related to military service.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia of the left knee, as the evidence did not show more than mild functional impairment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for consideration of new evidence submitted by him, and he has been given an opportunity to waive initial RO review.

The Board has characterized the mitral valve rating issue on appeal as set forth above. The veteran does not have ischemic heart disease or depressed left ventricular function attributable to his military service and therefore, the claim for a higher initial evaluation is denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 14, 1999 for the award of service connection for lymphoma due to herbicide exposure. The veteran's claim was reopened based on new evidence submitted in August 2001.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a stomach disorder, including gastroenteritis. The issue will now be considered on its merits.

The appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the veteran for VA benefits purposes, and her claims for service connection for cause of death and dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition, and the appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits for a period of time in excess of two years.