Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's knee disability, including traumatic arthritis and degenerative meniscus disease with a partial meniscectomy, is currently rated at 10 percent. However, beginning March 25, 2009, he was granted a separate compensable rating for mild instability of the left knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin disability was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of total rating based on individual unemployability is pending.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for postoperative splenectomy was denied. The maximum schedular rating available is 20 percent, which is the current evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for epicondylitis of the left elbow, finding that it was less likely than not caused by his military service.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for costochondritis has been increased to 20 percent, effective from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right third metatarsal are manifested by tenderness to palpation and pain on movement, which likely equates to the functional equivalent of metatarsalgia or moderate foot injury. The Board finds that a 10 percent disability rating for these residuals is warranted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for neurologic dysfunction affecting the extremities have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to his military service. The Board found that any symptoms are attributable to fibromyalgia.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the cancer to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's residuals of left superficial peroneal nerve injury are manifested by complaints and objective findings consistent with mild incomplete paralysis, warranting a noncompensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 20 percent for residuals of a right hand injury is granted, effective October 3, 2004.

The Veteran's claims for left eye blindness, left eye tumor, and colon disorder were denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year after separation. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, respiratory illness (to include as due to asbestos exposure), and sterility (to include as due to microwave radiation exposure). The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a medical nexus between any claimed conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis, and a respiratory disorder (alternatively diagnosed as COPD, bronchial asthma, emphysema, and asthma) due to full body exposure to mustard gas during military service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and therefore DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected anemia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lung tumors and granulomas, as well as his claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for sinusitis with postoperative residuals and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the character of discharge from active naval service is not a bar to non-service-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of his symptoms and whether they are related to VA treatment in December 2001.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of lacerations of left hand with muscle atrophy are secondary to his service-connected status post-operative severely comminuted distal radius fracture, left, with scar. The Veteran is granted a temporary total evaluation due to treatment for this condition.