Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's Dupuytren's contracture of the right hand is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied increased ratings for dermatophytosis of the hands and feet, groin from initial grant to March 2000, and groin from March 2000. Referral for extraschedular consideration was not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current restrictive lung disease did not begin during his service and is not attributable to any inservice event, injury, or illness. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for this condition.

The VA awarded a total rating with special monthly compensation for the service-connected bilateral eye disability effective from May 8, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for myositis, finding no competent medical evidence of current disability and concluding that there is no nexus between any diagnosed condition and military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of service connection for abnormal liver function tests, finding that there was no evidence showing a current disability or one incurred during service.

The veteran's lumbar spine disability, characterized by disc herniation at the L4-5 level, is productive of limitation of motion, lower extremity weakness, radiculopathy and other pain (not well managed by medication), and neurological impairment. With resolution of all reasonable doubt in the veteran's favor, the criteria for a 60 percent rating for post-operative residuals of HNP at L4-5 have been met.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim for service connection for stomach ulcers, as the submitted evidence did not provide a more complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the origin of the veteran's ulcer disease.

The Board has determined that the appellant's arthritis is not service-connected and his rheumatic fever does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cataracts were not incurred or aggravated by service, and specifically denied his claim based on exposure to mustard gas during military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The Board also noted that he did not serve in Vietnam and thus could not be presumed exposed to Agent Orange.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by elevated cholesterol levels and denies service connection for this condition. Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, but only as it relates to his borderline diabetes during active service.

The Board has found new and material evidence sufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for left and right eye disabilities, thus granting these appeals.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right great toe disorder did not begin during service and is not related to any incident of service. As a result, the claim for service connection for residuals of a right great toe injury was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected gout does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected crush injury to the left hand with laceration of the middle finger was denied by the Board.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for service-connected left temporal nerve damage, finding that the current noncompensable rating adequately reflects the veteran's symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected shell fragment wound to the right leg was denied. The issue regarding CUE in a June 21, 1971 rating action was also denied.

The veteran's service-connected post traumatic stress disorder qualifies him for an extension of his period of eligibility for vocational rehabilitation under Chapter 31, as he now has a 'serious employment handicap' due to the presence of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of November 1, 1999, for the grant of an apportionment to her as the veteran's estranged spouse. The decision stated that the effective date was fixed in accordance with the facts found and consistent with the regulation governing the effective date of an apportionment award.