Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hernias, pharyngeal seals, colostomy and colon resection, blood in stool, and hiatal hernia as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for increased rating for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to evaluate the veteran's service-connected pleuritis. The issue of an initial compensable rating for pleuritis remains on appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's thoracic spine disability was not incurred in or aggravated by her active service and denied her claim for service connection.

The veteran's left arm sw residuals are manifested by injuries to Muscle Groups III and V, which are best characterized as slight and moderate respectively. Limitation of motion in the left elbow is attributed to nonservice-connected arthritis. The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for these residuals.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation, finding that his right shoulder condition does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion, and a separate 30 percent rating was granted from February 5, 2004 to October 26, 2004. After this date, the veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for limitation of extension.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and hypertension. The decision found that hypertension was not incurred in or aggravated by service, direct or presumptively. For the skin disorder, the Board noted there was no evidence of its onset during service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for additional evidentiary development due to unclear service records and potential active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA involvement in a back injury.

The Board has denied service connection for keratitis. The claims of service connection for systemic arthritis and right eye cataract, as well as compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of cataract surgery, are pending.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's keloids, anterior and posterior thorax. The effective date of this grant remains April 24, 2003, as it corresponds to the date the claim was received by VA.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the veteran's claims, including additional VA examinations and consideration of TDIU. The issues include increased evaluations for spondylolisthesis and duodenal ulcer, as well as a claim for TDIU.

The veteran's death was not caused by VA medical carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault. The Board found no evidence to support the claim that VA was negligent in diagnosing and treating the veteran's colon cancer.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, sweating, salivation, tearing, muscle/joint pain, restlessness, weight loss and decreased stamina. The Board also denied his claims for alcohol and drug addiction, back problems, diabetes, and hepatitis C as they were not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic myelogenous leukemia, finding no evidence linking the condition to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA psychiatric examination and additional development of Social Security Administration records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosed gastrointestinal disability and thus cannot grant service connection for the veteran's claimed condition as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the spine.

The Board and the RO previously denied the veteran's claim for a TDIU in January 1978 and December 1978, respectively. The veteran did not appeal these decisions. He filed his current claim seeking a TDIU on April 17, 2003. As there is no evidence of unemployability within the year prior to this date, an earlier effective date for the assignment of a TDIU is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current cold injury residuals to his nose and ears, as there is no evidence of such a condition in service or post-service. The claim for service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have characteristic prostrating headaches during the appeal period, warranting a 0 percent rating for cephalgia.