Other conditions Board decisions

The case is remanded due to the need for further review of the veteran's claim, including information on Oxford Institute of Technology's status and date of approval.

The veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic brain syndrome associated with convulsive disorder and service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the kidney were denied. The claim for reopening a claim for service connection for residuals of hemorrhagic fever was also addressed, but not decided as it is being remanded.

The veteran's lichen planus of the skin was granted a 10 percent rating effective March 16, 2004.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or contribute to his death due to cardiopulmonary arrest and gastrointestinal bleeding. The medical evidence does not support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for gouty arthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking it to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam or to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The VA granted service connection for a left varicocele and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective April 13, 2000. The condition was not disabling enough to warrant a higher rating at any time since then.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 30 percent for bilateral nephrocalcinosis, finding that the RO had not complied with prior remand instructions and that a new VA examination was needed to assess the current severity of his disability.

The Board has dismissed the claims of entitlement to DIC under sections 1318 and 1151 as the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death was granted in a February 2005 rating decision, rendering these claims moot.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for right true vocal cord paralysis with hoarseness and service connection for ear drum damage due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection of a vision disorder as a residual of a head injury, and for a skin disorder due to Agent Orange exposure. The RO concluded that there is no basis in the available evidence to indicate service connection for these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a current eye disorder and denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, to include as due to or manifested by conjunctivitis. The dental disability issue is remanded for clarification regarding whether it was originally filed for compensation purposes.

The Board denied an increased rating for the residual conditions of a left mandible fracture and granted an initial 50 percent rating for PTSD. The veteran's symptoms were found to be less severe than initially claimed, leading to denial of his request for higher ratings.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for postoperative residuals of a right patella fracture was denied by the RO, with a final denial in February 2004. The case was remanded multiple times and ultimately denied again.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death and found that the appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, thus denying her entitlement to death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's congenital back disorder, characterized as a pars interarticularis defect of L5, was aggravated in service and grants the claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for cold injury to the right and left feet, as well as a compensable evaluation for excision chalazion both upper eyelids, were denied. The claim of service connection for gout was also denied.,Service connection for residuals of a left deviated nasal septum was granted with a non-compensable evaluation effective from September 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of a total left hip replacement, finding no credible evidence linking his current disability to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to recognition as the surviving spouse of the veteran for VA benefits purposes. The appeal for service-connected death benefits is remanded.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to esophageal cancer, finding no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's claim for a waiver of overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits is being remanded due to the need for more current information on his financial status.