Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that either left or right foot hammertoes are attributable to the veteran's service-connected onychomycosis.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for a status post left varicocele repair is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the appellant's claim as the veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of VA benefits due to her divorce from the veteran and remarriage, which precludes her status as a surviving spouse.

The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date prior to December 1, 2004, for the addition of dependent H to the veteran's award of nonservice connected pension benefits.

The veteran's claims for service connection for colon cancer and muscle spasms were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the veteran's PTSD and determine his employability.

The Board found that the veteran does not have shin splints, a depressive disorder, or PTSD attributable to service. The claim for these conditions was denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and evidence to determine the current severity of his service-connected gunshot wound residuals.

The Board found that the veteran's normochromic, normocytic anemia does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent. The condition is rated under DC 7700 and has never resulted in hemoglobin levels below 8 grams per 100 milliliters.

The veteran is seeking service connection for atrophy and weakness of the left shoulder and proximal muscles of the left arm due to brachial neuritis. The inpatient records from Reynolds Army Hospital are needed to determine if he was treated during his active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for Barrett's esophagus and hiatal hernia, finding no evidence of a current stomach condition related to military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracic spine, status post T-12 compression fracture, warrants a 20 percent rating based on its manifestations and incapacitating episodes.

The appellant is seeking an increased amount of nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to a change in income. The case has been remanded for further clarification and evidence submission.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for dependency and indemnity compensation, death pension benefits, and accrued benefits due to her divorce from the veteran.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine whether the veteran had underlying heart disease at the time of his death, which is required for service connection.

The Board found that the offset of $100,000 against DIC benefits was proper due to a settlement under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The overpayment of DIC benefits in the calculated amount of $7,231.00 is valid and will be addressed as part of the waiver application process.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical services provided by the Rochester General Hospital from October 3, 2005 to October 5, 2005 was not received within 90 days of discharge and therefore cannot be processed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected numbness of the fourth and fifth fingers, right hand, is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 8516 (ulnar nerve) due to mild incomplete paralysis. The service connection for degenerative joint disease, right elbow, was also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 10 percent rating for his right long finger disability, which reflects limitation of motion in the distal interphalangeal joint.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of collapsed bilateral lungs and assigned a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating effective March 15, 2006. The veteran's chest scars are also rated as noncompensable (0 percent).