Other conditions Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, effective from October 23, 1996. The appellant requested an earlier effective date but was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Hodgkin's disease but denied a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected hidradenitis suppurativa is manifested by intermittent flare-ups in the groin area, and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The Board has found that the veteran's arthritis of the right thumb is secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right thumb fracture, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased ratings and compensable rating for his postoperative residuals of a right inguinal hernia and residuals of stress reaction of the proximal tibias and os calcis bilateral, secondary to calcaneo-varus, prior to March 1, 2003. The Board found that there was no evidence of recurrent hernia or more than sensory involvement in the postoperative right inguinal hernia, and that the appellant's residuals of stress reaction did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's duodenal ulcer does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, as there is no evidence of weight loss, anemia, or incapacitating episodes averaging 10 days or more in duration at least four times per year.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35 due to lack of evidence linking the veteran's death to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking the cause of death (refractory anemia) to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left elbow arthralgia resulted from aggravation of preexisting residuals of a left humerus fracture incurred in a 1975 motor vehicle accident. The chest disability is not addressed as it was not part of the appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his vision disorder service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that existing evidence was not sufficient to establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current assertions of having suffered dental trauma in service are not supported by the record and there is no evidence showing a causal link between any current dental disability and an injury in service. Therefore, service connection for residuals of loosened teeth as a result of dental trauma was denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for ecthyma of the lower extremities has been dismissed due to his death.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for cephalgia was granted, with a current evaluation of 30 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his current respiratory disorder is related to in-service chemical exposure.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he meets the schedular criteria for TDIU due to his service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the legal requirements for service-connected death pension benefits, DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, or non-service connected death pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service and failure to establish entitlement.

The Board denied an increased rating for postoperative residuals of a right inguinal hernia, finding that the current condition does not warrant a higher rating under any diagnostic code.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and notification under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA). The claims for an increased evaluation for irritable stomach and for an effective date prior to December 15, 1998, for service connection for diabetes insipidus are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a right eye disorder, as secondary to medication received for treatment of his service-connected malaria. The case is remanded for further development and an opinion on whether the current right eye disorder is related to his service-connected malaria.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.