Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to colon cancer, finding that there was no direct evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's rheumatic fever was not shown to have hastened his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment, and denied both claims.

The Board has granted service connection for esophageal cancer and awarded a 100% rating effective February 1, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at University of Nebraska Medical Center was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in June 2010.

The Board found that the appellant's currently diagnosed genitourinary disability is not related to his active duty service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a healed iridocyclitis of the left eye is being remanded due to an inadequate VA examination. A new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to assess whether the current vision loss is related to service-connected causes.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, myocardial infarction, was not related to his service-connected disabilities or any condition incurred during his period of active service.

The Veteran's residuals of a laceration of the right middle finger were rated at 10 percent effective March 31, 2004. The claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis of both ankles remain denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's plasmacytoma, including secondary to inservice exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange).

The Veteran's right thumb disability was rated at 10 percent from May 27, 1980 to September 23, 1990 and at 20 percent thereafter. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating for any portion of this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the need for clarification of opinions regarding his asbestos-related respiratory disease and its relationship to his cerebrovascular accidents and brain tumor.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased initial evaluation for bony mallet deformity of the left long finger with non-united avulsion fragment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (cold weather injuries to the right and left feet) meet the percentage criteria for TDIU, as they result in a combined rating of 60 percent. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hallux rigidus is less likely as not permanently aggravated by military service, but acknowledges that she had a pre-existing condition. The decision remains mixed due to this finding and other factors.

The Veteran's current left eye disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected keratoconjunctivitis has been rated at 10 percent since July 20, 1953. The most recent VA examination in December 2009 showed corrected visual acuity of 20/25 in the left eye and 20/30 in the right eye, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's metastatic cancer to his military service or any of his service-connected conditions, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral weakness in the lower extremities was not incurred in active service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was not a prisoner of war (POW) during his military service and therefore, does not meet the criteria for former POW status. As such, he is denied recognition as a former POW for purposes of VA benefits.