Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed disabilities, including residuals of a shrapnel wound to the lower back and traumatic amputation of the fingertips, were not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran experienced intermittent explosive disorder in service and finds an etiological relationship between the in-service disability and the current condition, granting service connection.

The appellant's claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and death pension benefits were denied because she was not recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse at the time of his death.

The Board denied service connection for chronic residuals of frozen feet and an increased evaluation for left inguinal hernia repair. The veteran's claim for residuals of frozen feet was not supported by evidence linking the disability to his military service, while the left inguinal hernia was found to be asymptomatic.

The veteran died at Baptist St. Anthony's Hospice in May 2003 and was not receiving VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of his death. The claim for non-service-connected burial benefits is denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's quadriplegia was not caused by VA medical treatment and denied his claim.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a hysterectomy and increased ratings for her fibrocystic breast disease and right ovarian cyst. The case has been remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the cause of the hysterectomy, the current severity of her service-connected conditions, and whether there are scars or other residuals from her surgeries.

The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of hiatal hernia should be September 23, 1985.

The VA granted service connection for Bell's palsy and assigned a noncompensable disability rating. The veteran appealed, and the RO increased the disability rating to 10 percent.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability evaluation for the veteran's post-operative C6 avulsive spinous process fracture residuals with C3 arthritis, finding that his cervical spine disability is manifested by severe limitation of motion and deformity.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left tibia fracture was granted, and he is currently rated at 10 percent. The effective date of service connection for the left tibia fracture remains unresolved.

The Board has ordered the RO to reconstruct the claims folder by obtaining missing documents and evidence, including service medical records and personnel files. The case will be reviewed again after this additional development.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected low back disability, which is currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the appellant's claim for revocation of forfeiture of entitlement to VA benefits previously declared against her. As a result, additional development will be required regarding the underlying issue of the revocation of the forfeiture of entitlement to VA benefits.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine the nature, extent and etiology of any left lower extremity disability found in the veteran's case. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been denied as he did not submit new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right hip replacement due to avascular necrosis as secondary to his service-connected low back syndrome.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for residuals of shell fragment wound of the left frontal region with craniectomy and plate insertion, effective from April 18, 2005. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for postoperative residuals of basal cell carcinoma of the right side of the nose was also granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected bilateral degenerative joint disease of both feet, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation than the current 20 percent assigned.

The Board found no evidence of a current left foot/toe disorder and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.