Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 25, 1999 for service connection of xeroderma was granted. The rating for residuals of xeroderma was increased from 10 percent to 30 percent.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at North Ridge Medical Center from July 13, 1999 to July 26, 1999 are denied as there was no prior authorization for the care provided.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a diagnosis of PTSD and insufficient corroboration of any claimed in-service stressors. The veteran's death was attributed to an intraoral gunshot wound.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for cancer of the colon as secondary to chronic irritable bowel syndrome, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking the development of colon cancer to his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute to his death from dementia.

The VA determined that the veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's death from metastatic stomach cancer was not caused by service-connected residuals of hepatitis and did not occur during or until many years following active service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic degenerative joint disease of the right knee and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran's memory loss, fatigue, and sore joints are related to service but cannot be directly service-connected. These conditions may be considered as undiagnosed illnesses under Persian Gulf War provisions.,Service connection is granted for chronic fatigue syndrome and joint pain (arthralgia) as these conditions manifest within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that the veteran had not presented new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a jaw injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted since the June 1988 denial.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right clavicle fracture is denied as the current evaluation of 10 percent adequately reflects the functional limitations and disability.

The VA has determined that the veteran's left lower leg varicose vein is currently rated at 40 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code. The condition does not meet criteria for higher ratings based on additional symptoms or severity.

The veteran's service-connected right upper arm injury is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation benefits for dependents is denied as the law did not require retroactive payment.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disability due to Agent Orange exposure as there is no evidence of such condition during or after service, and it was not caused by any incident of service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's scoliosis was aggravated by her active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right ear tympanic membrane perforation, finding no current evidence of such condition and noting that the preponderance of the evidence was against the claim.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current residuals of malaria and clearly did not incur a shell fragment wound to the left side of his head during service. The claims were denied.