Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and eligibility for educational assistance benefits. The cause of death was cholangitic carcinoma, which the VA determined was not related to his military service.

The Board finds that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder is related to his military service, and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The veteran's service-connected prostatitis causes symptoms no worse than daytime voiding once every hour, and awakening to void three to four times per night. The VA determined that a rating in excess of 20 percent is not warranted for his condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for sterility is being remanded due to the need for additional testing, including a testicular biopsy and further work-up for retrograde ejaculation.

The veteran's claim for a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was denied because his service-connected disability does not meet the threshold requirements for TDIU. The veteran has one service-connected disability with an evaluation of 40 percent, and as such, it does not meet the threshold requirements for a TDIU.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD as there was no credible supporting evidence that any of the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new examination to assess the impact of his tarsal tunnel syndrome on employment and a determination of whether he should be granted an increased rating.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claim of service connection for residuals of pneumonia before a decision was made.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected temporomandibular joint syndrome, compromise of the tenth cranial nerve with slurred speech and bilateral inner ear Eustachian tube dysfunction warrants a 30 percent evaluation since December 16, 2002. The current range of motion is from 15 to 17 millimeters without any discomfort.

The veteran seeks compensation for left hemidiaphragm paralysis resulting from a coronary artery bypass graft procedure performed at a VA medical facility in May 2000. The case is remanded to determine the nature and etiology of the claimed condition, including whether it was caused by the surgical procedure.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse for the purpose of establishing eligibility for VA death pension benefits, finding that she did not meet the requirements to be a surviving spouse due to mutual consent in separating from the veteran.

The appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for Crohn's disease, status-post bowel resection is being remanded due to the need for additional evidentiary development including a VA examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The veteran's old Grade II acromioclavicular separation, left (minor) is not productive of left arm motion limited to 25 degrees from side, even when pain is taken into account; the disability picture does not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at an RO in Nevada. The case will be returned to the Board after any necessary development.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for death pension benefits because the decedent did not have recognized service with the Special Philippine Scouts, which is required for eligibility to receive VA pension benefits.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's need for colostomy and removal of bladder and prostate was caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA during hospitalization at MOFH in February to March 2003. The decision is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's service connection claims.

The veteran's mental health disability is unclear, and a VA examination is needed to determine the current nature of his condition and its likely etiology. The examiner should also assess whether any acquired psychiatric disorder is related to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral great toe onychomycosis and assigned a noncompensable initial disability rating, which is now increased to 10 percent.

The Board has granted the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of frozen ears, including actinic keratosis, finding that his statements concerning the occurrence of the in-service injury are credible and linking the current disability to his in-service ear injuries.