Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disorder of the legs is not related to his service or exposure to herbicides, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran was entitled to $8,766 in nonservice-connected pension benefits from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2007. The Board found that the Veteran is still owed $7,575 for the period from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA knee specialist examination and considering the possibility of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The case is being remanded for the VA to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) records, including any administrative decision(s) on his application for SSA disability benefits and all underlying medical records. The appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death will be readjudicated after this.

The Veteran's service-connected right hand disability, right knee disabilities, and lumbar spine disability have not met the criteria for an increased rating beyond the currently assigned 10 percent ratings.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for shin splints of the left leg has been denied as his disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 6, 2006 for service connection for syncopal episodes as a residual of head trauma and for a 100 percent evaluation for organic mood disorder and organic amnestic disorder as a residual of head trauma have both been denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a chest injury is denied as there is no competent evidence of current disability or in-service disease/injury.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need to determine if a signed consent form related to his October 2003 surgery exists and to obtain an addendum opinion from the January 2007 VA examiner regarding whether he incurred additional disabilities as a result of the surgery.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral leg fractures is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's left lower extremity varicose veins are currently rated at 40 percent, the highest available rating under the applicable VA rating criteria. The symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the appellant's request.

The Veteran's back disability, manifested by flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to no less than 90 degrees, painful motion, and intermittent debilitating muscle spasms, is rated at a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's surviving spouse does not meet the legal criteria for basic eligibility for VA death benefits, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), as they were married less than one year prior to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is not found to be related to his service-connected sinusitis, and the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA administrative decision and supporting medical records. The case must also be readjudicated in light of new evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service and is etiologically related to her active service, thus the Board has granted service connection for tinnitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant is recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA purposes, and thus eligible to receive VA death benefits.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has a chronic sinus disability and whether it is related to service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a travel board hearing at the Newark, New Jersey RO.