Other conditions Board decisions

The VA has denied the reopening of a previously denied claim for benefits as new and material evidence was not provided to establish that the appellant is the veteran's illegitimate child.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for rectal fistula with incontinence was granted, and he is now receiving a 30% disability rating effective from April 10, 2002. His TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board found that the appellant's second period of active duty discharge was dishonorable and thus constitutes a bar to VA compensation benefits. The appeal is denied.

The veteran's total left hip replacement is productive of moderately severe residuals, including pain, weakness, limitation of motion, and atrophy. The Board has determined that a 50 percent rating, but no more, is warranted for the left hip based on moderately severe residuals.

The veteran is entitled to a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his service-connected lower extremity disability, which requires the use of a wheeled walker for all modes of locomotion outside and most of the time inside the home.

The case is being remanded for the appellant to attend a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected injury to the right middle finger from January 1, 2004 to June 7, 2004 was denied.,His claim for a temporary evaluation of 100% based on surgical treatment necessitating convalescence from June 8, 2004 to December 31, 2005 was granted. However, his subsequent claims for an increased evaluation were denied.

The Board denied service connection for a spine disorder and calcified pleural plaques, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation grant, as his need is primarily due to a non-service-connected cerebrovascular accident.

The Board determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection for cause of death.

The veteran is appealing the propriety of his VA pension benefits from January 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004. The case has been remanded for further review and clarification.

The Board found that the veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia is not related to military service, including any in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis, finding no in-service incurrence or chronic symptomatology since service and thus denying the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the residuals of cold injuries to both hands, finding that these conditions are more likely than not incurred during service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a new hearing at the RO.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss. The claims of service connection for duodenitis and gastric ulcer, as well as bilateral hip arthritis, are remanded due to new evidence suggesting a possible secondary relationship to service-connected disabilities. The claim to reopen the tension headaches is also remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a right foot fracture and an initial compensable rating for residuals of laparotomy scarring with incidental appendectomy, finding that the evidence did not support such ratings based on the current state of his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent from June 29, 1998 through February 22, 2001; 20 percent from February 23, 2001 to March 14, 2005; and 30 percent thereafter. The veteran's service-connected residuals of a head injury, to include migraine headaches, were rated at 30 percent.

The veteran's hiatal hernia with peptic ulcer disease is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has found that the veteran's ulcerative colitis was incurred in service, granting his claim for service connection.