Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis of the right foot was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. The medical evidence does not indicate a causal relationship between his currently diagnosed arthritis and his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board found that the appellant's skin disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service and denied his claim.

The Board is remanding the case for further development and readjudication due to a previous denial of service connection for gastrointestinal disorder and esophagitis, claimed as due to toxic gas exposure.

The Veteran's varicose veins of the right lower extremity are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his symptoms.

The Veteran's lung disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is related to his service, including asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine is manifested by tenderness and painful forward flexion, meeting the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5242.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The VA will also schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his bilateral hip disabilities and claimed left index finger disability.

The Veteran's residuals of colon cancer are currently rated at 40 percent, effective throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of service connection for a mood disorder with depressive features, finding that the earliest possible effective date was August 20, 2004.

The Veteran seeks service connection for cold weather injuries to his bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Board has determined that further development is needed, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination and medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current chronic pulmonary disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's Hodgkin's disease was not found to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 17, 2008 or in excess of 20 percent thereafter. The Board denied the claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability (DJD of the patellofemoral joint) was granted, with an effective date set at September 2, 2005. The initial compensable rating for residual scarring from arthroscopic surgery remains unchanged. An earlier effective date for the increased rating is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran did not incur a left hip fracture during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Board has determined that the appellant can be recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of VA death benefits, given the mutual consent to separation and lack of fault on her part.

The Board found that the appellant did not meet the criteria to be considered as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of VA benefits due to their separation lasting over 36 years and lack of mutual consent.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg as it was not incurred during active duty or training.

The Board denied service connection for Bell's palsy and headaches, but granted service connection for a skin condition. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for Bell's palsy as there is no evidence of in-service occurrence or a nexus between the disability and his military service. For the skin condition, the Board found that the Veteran has current skin conditions and that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected atypical psychosis treatment.