Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal cancer, including secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, and for increased ratings for PTSD. The decision also noted that the veteran had been granted a staged rating for his PTSD.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection of his right elbow disability, including bony spurs found on x-ray. The medical evidence does not support a finding that the current right elbow disability is related to an in-service injury.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by dizziness, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date of October 17, 1991 for the granting of service connection for arthritis secondary to Crohn's disease is granted.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for retinopathy, claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus, has been dismissed due to the appellant withdrawing their appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disorder and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for basal cell carcinoma, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran is appealing the assignment of a 20 percent disability rating for arthritis secondary to his service-connected Crohn's disease. He also wishes an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected degenerative joint disease at L3-4, with L5-S1 spurring and tinea corporis. The veteran was previously granted a 20 percent rating in April 1993 and increased to 40 percent in September 2004. The Board found that the current schedular ratings adequately reflect his disability.

The Board found that the appellant's husband did not have qualifying service with the United States Armed Forces, and therefore was not a veteran for purposes of eligibility for VA benefits. As a result, the appellant is not eligible for VA death benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's eye disorder is not attributable to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to lack of credible supporting evidence for claimed in-service stressors. The deviated nasal septum and allergic rhinitis have been evaluated as they are currently manifested.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the assignment of a 100% evaluation for dissociative amnesia is not warranted as it was not factually ascertainable that the disability met the criteria for such rating prior to February 23, 2004.

The VA has determined that the veteran's breast cancer is not related to his active service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The Board finds the VA medical opinion persuasive and denies the claim.

The veteran's erectile dysfunction and penis deformity have been granted a 20 percent evaluation throughout the appeal period, effective from November 10, 2005. No higher rating is warranted.

The appeal is being remanded due to the failure to notify the appellant of her scheduled hearing at the wrong address. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling a new hearing before a Member of the Board.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss and service connection for right ear hearing loss, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for cervical spine disability. The veteran's cervical spine disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for gouty arthritis of the left elbow effective March 21, 2005. Since September 8, 2007, a separate 10 percent rating is assigned for limitation of flexion and extension of the left knee.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gluteal sarcoma and pulmonary cancer, finding no evidence of exposure to asbestos, ionizing radiation, or Agent Orange during service. The conditions were not shown in service or within one year post-service discharge.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 11, 2005 was timely filed and the VAMC must now decide if he satisfies all criteria for payment under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's motion for revision or reversal on grounds of CUE in their January 2006 decision to deny an extension of her basic 10-year period of eligibility for receiving educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code.