Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found no evidence of a head injury during service and no current diagnosis or post-service medical evidence linking the veteran's alleged in-service injury to his present condition. As such, the claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is denied.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected left hip disability is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and consideration of additional treatment records.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's rating from 30% to 10% for residuals of cholecystectomy was improper. The RO is now required to restore the veteran's original 30% rating, and then re-adjudicate his claim for an increased evaluation.

The veteran's right arm disability was initially evaluated as noncompensable and later increased to 10 percent effective January 14, 2002. The claim for an earlier effective date is granted.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for service-connected bilateral Morton's disease, finding that the current 10 percent rating adequately reflects the veteran's symptoms.

The Board has granted an initial compensable evaluation of 10 percent for uveitis, residuals of an injury to the right eye. The condition is found to be directly related to service-connected uveitis.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a nervous condition and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further action consistent with the directives of a July 2003 Order, which vacated the denial of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and considered the claim for DEA benefits abandoned.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for varicose veins of the right leg and left leg, effective from March 2003. The veteran's disability is characterized by persistent edema, stasis pigmentation or eczema, and intermittent ulceration.

The veteran's right nephrectomy residuals are not considered to be associated with additional disability due to VA carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the issues related to effective dates and restoration of dependency and indemnity compensation benefits. The appellant's representative has filed a notice of disagreement regarding the severance of dependency and indemnity compensation benefits.

The veteran's post-operative residuals involving the left arm and hand are currently rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The effective date for his total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was changed from July 5, 1990 to January 4, 1995.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have disabling symptoms associated with service-connected patent ductus arteriosus and denied a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and to schedule a personal hearing before the Board.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death as a result of nicotine dependence acquired in service, concluding that there was no evidence to support this claim.

The veteran's left hip disability, characterized by avascular necrosis with degenerative changes, was found to be productive of limited motion due to pain and the need for prescription pain medication. The RO granted a rating of 30 percent prior to February 21, 2002.

The Board has remanded the veteran's appeal due to additional development being required, including verifying combat exposure and obtaining medical opinions on PTSD and employment issues.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected hammertoes and denied his claim for service connection for arthritis of the toes bilaterally, finding that it is not at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hammertoes.