Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to May 24, 1999 for a grant of TDIU and also denied his claim regarding CUE in the January 8, 2000 rating decision. The RO correctly applied existing laws and regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's death was caused by an accidental drowning, and there was no service-connected disability that contributed to his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of overpayment of death pension benefits due to her failure to file the request within the 180-day period specified by VA regulations.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected shell fragment wound to the left thigh involving muscle group XIV is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a hearing request and deterioration of the veteran's conditions.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right zygoma, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of bone loss and no active infections or other complications.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for permanent incapacity for self-support before age 18 due to her sickle cell anemia, as there was no clinical evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18.

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for Raynaud's disease prior to December 21, 2001 and a 60 percent rating from that date. The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including a fungal infection of the hands and feet and atrophy or arthritis of the left upper extremity. The VA will also provide an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound of the left little finger.

The veteran is seeking service connection for eye disorders including myopia, astigmatism, diplopia, and cataract changes. The RO has requested a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board granted an increased evaluation of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected bilateral defective hearing, which was previously rated at 20 percent. The evidence showed that the veteran now had a more severe pattern of hearing impairment.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals denied the appellant's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected residuals of a left varicocele.

The Board found that the veteran's respiratory problems were due to exposure to asbestos during service, and granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The VA has granted an initial evaluation of 50 percent for panic disorder, reflecting moderate impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA benefits because her deceased husband did not have the required military service to qualify.

The veteran's PTSD was productive of total occupational and social impairment from May 27, 1997 to November 7, 2000, leading to a grant of a 100% disability rating effective from that date.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including the application of new rating criteria effective September 26, 2003.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability (claimed as ruptured appendix), left knee disability, left hand disability, head injury (to include blackout spells), and PTSD. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the issues of an increased evaluation for right eye choroidal neovascular membrane and newly raised issue of entitlement to service connection for other bilateral eye disabilities are inextricably intertwined, at least at the present time. The case is being REMANDED to the VBA AMC for further development.

The Board denied service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's causes of death to his service.