Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that Huntington's Chorea was not present in service and is not etiologically related to the veteran's active military service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a chronic skin disorder remains unresolved and is being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of a loan guaranty indebtedness due to his unemployment and attempts to avoid foreclosure, finding no fault on either party. The VA did not create the debt intentionally.

The veteran's claim for higher evaluations for instability of the left knee and arthritis of both knees was denied. However, he received a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of the right knee effective April 4, 2002.

The Board denied reopening the veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disorder due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected low back disability warrants a 60 percent rating, which is more than the current 40 percent assigned.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Crohn's disease does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the veteran's appeal to the RO for additional development, including obtaining service medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic Achilles' tendon disorder.

The Board has restored the veteran's 40 percent disability rating for duodenal ulcer from July 1, 2004. The claim for a higher disability rating for duodenal ulcer is denied.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected spondylolisthesis, L5-S1, currently rated at 10 percent. The evidence showed that prior to September 26, 2003, the disability was characterized by pain on motion; however, as of September 26, 2003, it included decreased range of motion and localized tenderness not resulting in abnormal gait.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for gastritis due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination, and there is no competent medical evidence relating current gastritis to service.

The appeal is remanded to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC for additional development. The veteran's claim of entitlement to special monthly compensation by reason of being in need of regular aid and attendance or on account of being housebound must be reconsidered.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further development regarding his service-connected bladder disorder and a secondary claim for radiation proctitis. The TDIU issue will be reconsidered after these issues are resolved.

The Board granted an initial rating of 20 percent for Bell's palsy and confirmed the effective date as April 6, 1998.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his left elbow condition is being remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his current functional impairment.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for refractive error and bilateral macular disease as secondary to migratory polyarthritis. The veteran's current eye condition is being evaluated based on whether it is directly related to his service or if it is a new development not connected to any prior conditions.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for appendectomy residuals, service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, and reopening of his psychiatric disorder claim are being remanded to allow for additional development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO. The issues include reopening and evaluating service connection for exophoria, increasing evaluations for an adjustment disorder with anxiety neurosis and depression, a deviated septum, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a physical examination to determine if the veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertrophic gastritis, resulting in a denial.