Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and a low back disorder due to his withdrawal of these claims.

The veteran's service-connected neurosis is currently evaluated at a 30 percent rating, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms of moderate anxiety, depression, and irritability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected back disability warrants a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of his claim.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a back injury as the evidence did not support a link between the current low back disability and either the claimed 1942 injury or the wound in the thoracic area during service.

The Board found that the veteran's left eye disability, which was noted at the time of enlistment and not corrected, did not increase in severity during service. The claim is denied as there is no evidence of aggravation or superimposed disease.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability evaluation for the partial distal right thumb amputation since July 23, 2002. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for the right knee disorder is remanded.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence of persistent edema or stasis pigmentation, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7120.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 23, 2003, for a 60 percent rating for pemphigus. The earliest date upon which it is factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected pemphigus met the criteria for a 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7815 was April 23, 2003, when he was prescribed prednisone.

The veteran's bilateral blepharitis and conjunctivitis are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for post concussion syndrome was denied as there is no valid claim in the matter.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied an increased rating for bronchiectasis of the right lung, status post thoracotomies with restrictive lung disease.

The veteran's gastrointestinal disorder was not due to additional disease or injury from VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or some other incident or fault. The Board found no evidence that the VA clinician erred in prescribing Naprosyn.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left Achilles tendon injury was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's DVT and superficial vein thrombophlebitis of the right lower extremity is as likely as not due to an injury sustained during his period of active service. However, there is no evidence linking any current left leg manifestations to service or radiation exposure.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death (hip fracture and primary central nervous system lymphoma) to service or any service-connected condition, thus denying service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart murmur, finding no current disability due to service.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for calcified granulomas of the lungs is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of medical records.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for recognition of her adopted children, L.R.A. and C.G.A., as adoptive children of the veteran for purposes of payments of additional VA benefits due to a delay in issuance of an adoption decree within two years of the veteran's death.