Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's varicose veins of the right leg are not service-connected, but his left leg condition is service-connected and warrants a 60% rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for abnormal liver function tests and intention tremors, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service.,The veteran's intention tremors were not found to be related to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's blindness of the left eye, finding that he was already receiving the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6070 prior to November 20, 1998 and under Diagnostic Code 6066 from November 20, 1998. The Board concluded that the veteran's testimony regarding his need for an artificial eye did not provide sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypochondriacal reaction is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering a recent PTSD examination report.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the left hand, finding that the disability is primarily manifested by pain on motion and productive of moderately severe impairment.

The Board has found the appellant's claim well grounded and granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to his service-connected varicose veins.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no medical evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to his military service or connecting them to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was denied as he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements due to lack of wartime service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lymphoma, claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure in service, was denied because there is no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his military service. The veteran also had a claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for residuals of fracture, navicular, right foot, which was remanded for further examination and development.

The veteran's left calf disability is rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted accrued benefits for the expenses incurred by the appellant in connection with her aunt's last sickness or burial, as she is not the veteran's surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent.

The Board found that the veteran's Hodgkin's lymphoma was in remission and did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation. The MROC reduced his rating from 100% to 0%, effective April 1, 1997.

The Board found that the claim for residuals of pneumonia is not well grounded, while the claim for gastrointestinal symptoms (claimed as somatoform disorder) is well grounded. The appeal is considered 'mixed' due to the different statuses.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected postoperative residuals of an L4-5 herniation is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of all relevant medical evidence.

The Board found that the claim is not well-grounded and denied service connection for residuals of a right foot injury.

The veteran's claims for reducing her disability ratings and for a compensable evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities have been denied due to her failure to respond to VA requests for additional evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's facial tic and speech impediment were not caused by VA-provided psychotropic medication, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disorder due to new and material evidence, but the claim remains not well grounded as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability resulting from disease or injury incurred during service.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current loss of vision in his left eye to service, including any inservice injuries. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the November 1984 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error in denying a total disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected nervous disorder. As a result, the veteran is now rated totally disabled by a schedular rating for a period of ten or more years immediately preceding his death, entitling the appellant to DIC benefits.