Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of March 10, 2007 for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance Benefits due to lack of a valid claim prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection, DEA benefits, and SMC are denied as the earliest date of receipt of a claim to reopen was January 23, 2002.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability, finding that a higher rating was not warranted. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for mononeuropathy of the left foot.

The Board has denied service connection for a congenital talipes cavus deformity of the feet and a bilateral knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not diseases or injuries within the meaning of applicable legislation for VA disability compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins of the right leg has been reopened, but his request for a compensable rating for left varicocele remains denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for numbness of the left side of his face is granted as it was incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right epididymitis is related to surgical procedures in service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic skin rash during service or within the presumptive period for Gulf War Syndrome, and concluded that any current condition is not related to service.

The Veteran's dysthymia is manifested by mild social isolation, moderate occupational anxiety, chronic depressive symptoms, and panic attacks. The Board has determined that a 30 percent rating for service-connected dysthymia is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if her current pelvic pain and misalignment are related to service, including symphysis pubis disorder diagnosed during pregnancy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection based on Agent Orange exposure must be remanded for further development, including verification of any potential exposure to herbicides in Thailand.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of her service-connected small angle esotropia and her ability to work due to her disabilities. The TDIU claim will also be readjudicated.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of cold injuries to the hands and feet, concluding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The left knee disability claim is pending as it lacks a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for paralysis and cramping of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, claimed as secondary to a service-connected cervical spine disability, is being remanded due to missing VA records from his treatment history.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional left eye disability, but the appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's service-connected deviated nasal septum with bilateral nasal obstruction is rated at 10 percent, the maximum under Diagnostic Code 6502. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Board determined that the Veteran's left elbow disability, characterized by continuous aching pain and limited range of motion, does not warrant an evaluation in excess of the current 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his sebaceous cyst of the right ear is being remanded due to inadequate development, including a need for a VA examination.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of an inguinal hernia that is related to service. The Board finds no evidence linking the current condition to service, and the Veteran's testimony regarding his history of hernias is not credible due to internal inconsistency.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct a neurological examination to determine if he has any neurological manifestations of his upper and/or lower extremities related to his service-connected lumbar disc disease.