Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that the veteran's service connection claim for testicular/gonadal failure secondary to trauma is not warranted due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to service. The increased evaluation claim for recurrent spontaneous pneumothoraces, with residual scars, was also denied as there was no medical evidence showing a direct link between his service-connected condition and the current symptoms.

The veteran's cause of death, carcinomatosis with the gallbladder as the primary site, is presumed to be related to his exposure to herbicides during service in Vietnam. The VA has determined that he had a service-connected disability (PTSD and shell fragment wound residuals) which was not the principal or contributory cause of his death.

The VA denied a compensable evaluation for the appellant's strain of the left (minor) trapezius muscle, finding that his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's right foot disability, including hallux valgus with prominent bunion and multiple rigid hammertoes of the lesser toes, does not warrant a rating higher than 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for disequilibrium, finding that the veteran's current condition is not related to his in-service shell fragment wound to the head.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was granted service connection as a consequence of his service in Vietnam.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right upper trunk with Muscle Group II involvement, finding that the disability did not present such an exceptional or unusual picture as to render impractical the application of the regular schedular standards.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot ulcer disorder due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial in January 1982. The claim is now pending for further review.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right arm disability, currently evaluated at 20 percent. The RO found that the veteran's condition did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and ensuring proper VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right thumb disability is service-connected as it resulted from an injury sustained during active military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for a fractured right clavicle is remanded due to insufficient examination findings. Further development, including a VA medical examination, is required.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to procedural errors in previous decisions, including failure to consider finality of prior denials and correct legal criteria.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim, allowing him to deduct the entire cost of a headstone for his wife as a burial expense from his countable income for nonservice-connected disability pension purposes.

The veteran is seeking service connection for thrombocythemia, which he claims was caused by exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The Board has decided that additional development of the record is needed to determine if there is a link between the condition and service.

The Board has granted service connection for obsessive-compulsive disorder but denied service connection for a right leg disability. The veteran's OCD is found to have its onset during service, while his right leg disability is not considered related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a review of the appellant's account and determination of the validity of the overpayment.

The veteran is seeking an increased rating for his service-connected back disability, which currently has a 20 percent evaluation. The RO must obtain VA medical treatment records and consider the revised rating criteria of Diagnostic Codes 5293 and 5243 before deciding on the claim.

The veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 21, 2001 based on his combined rating for service-connected disabilities meeting the regulatory threshold.