Other conditions Board decisions

The VA granted service connection for a mallet deformity of the right ring finger and assigned an effective date of September 20, 2004. The veteran is currently receiving a 10 percent rating on an extraschedular basis.

The veteran seeks service connection for Crohn's disease, including stomach and colon disabilities, as due to exposure to herbicides. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right arm disability and scar, finding that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hip labral tear is proximately due to his service-connected left knee and right hip disabilities, resolving all doubt in favor of the veteran.

The Board granted a rating of 40 percent for the veteran's back disability, effective from November 19, 2007. The other issues were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a right hip disorder due to new evidence submitted. However, the claim remains denied as there is no medical evidence showing that the current right hip disorder or arthritis was incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a neck/spinal disorder and an increased rating for dermatitis, upper neck, midline anterior. The veteran was found not to have a current chronic cervical spine or neck disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected malaria is inactive and without residuals such as liver or spleen damage, thus denying a compensable disability rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for depressive neurosis and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any current psychiatric disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disability and determined that the veteran's right shoulder disability warrants evaluations of 20 percent from October 24, 2002 to July 28, 2003, 30 percent from September 1, 2004 to February 16, 2006, and 60 percent thereafter. The reduction in evaluation was found to be proper.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to metastatic colon cancer, finding that it was not related to service or ionizing radiation exposure.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased disability ratings are denied as the current awards are effective to the date service connection has been established.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center on November 27 and November 28, 2004 are denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current bilateral bunion and foot condition may be related to service. The claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for an ear condition, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current foot disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected panic disorder with depressive features is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a review of the claims folder and a VA psychiatric examination.

The VA Regional Office denied the appellant's claim for VA death benefits because the decedent served in the Merchant Marine, which was not considered service in the U.S. Armed Forces for VA benefits purposes.

The veteran attempted to reopen a claim for an earlier effective date for the award of VA pension benefits, but the Board dismissed the appeal due to the improper nature of such a claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral cataracts are at least as likely as not related to an injury from a torpedo explosion in service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.