Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred a right ear injury during service and has established a link between this in-service injury and his current disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for residuals of a right ear injury is granted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to a lack of evidence linking his service-connected disabilities to his death from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's non-service-connected atrial fibrillation is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's disability of the spine, characterized by intervertebral disc disease and status post laminectomy, is rated at a maximum of 60 percent due to pronounced symptoms including pain, muscle spasm, and limitation of motion. The decision grants an increase in evaluation from 40 to 60 percent.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and evaluation of his right elbow condition, which includes arthritis and a gunshot wound. The case will be readjudicated based on the new findings.

The Board has granted an increased evaluation from 20 percent to 30 percent for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee with chondromalacia and subluxation of the patella, effective November 18, 2005. The veteran is also entitled to a separate, compensable 10 percent evaluation for arthritis of each knee.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 23, 1997 for the award of service connection for a herniated nucleus pulposus at C5-C6, status post-operative cervical fusion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right arm disorder, bone missing from leg, and residuals of an upper jaw fracture as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for left and right inguinal hernias, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including consideration of an earlier effective date for service connection and SMC based on loss of use of both lower extremities.

The veteran's claim for non-service connected disability pension was denied because he did not serve during a period of war, making him ineligible based on the law.

The VA determined that there is no current disability of head injury residuals and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the veteran currently suffers from a dermatologic disability and whether it is etiologically related to active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents. The case will be remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for compression injury of the spine with muscle atrophy and right hand numbness, finding no evidence to support these conditions as being related to his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for postoperative ulcerative colitis is denied as there is no evidence of severe impairment with numerous attacks and malnutrition.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected ankylosing spondylitis did not contribute to his death due to asphyxiation in a house fire. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for loss of teeth (excluding tooth number 7) and stomach ulcers, to include as secondary to loss of teeth. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's shrapnel wound to muscle group XIX warrants a 10 percent evaluation, as it is considered a moderate disability due to its through-and-through nature. The effective date remains pending as no specific date was provided in the decision.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence. The Board also found that there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran's claim, granting service connection on a direct basis.