Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current lung disability and there is no evidence linking his injury to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeal due to his death, and no specific rating or effective date was assigned.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disability and headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining inpatient treatment records from Knox Hospital in Rockland, Maine.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected thoracic spine disability, currently evaluated at 20 percent.

The case is being remanded to the RO for an appropriate hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO, in accordance with applicable law.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and scheduling of a Travel Board hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's spine disability did not arise from an in-service injury and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding whether an overpayment of VA educational benefits was properly created.

The veteran seeks an increased evaluation for his service-connected left Achilles' tendon disability, which is rated under Diagnostic Code 5271. The RO must ensure that all notification and development required by the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 are completed, including obtaining any pertinent medical records and ensuring compliance with the requirements of DeLuca v. Brown (1995).

The VA determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left popliteal area with retained foreign body do not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as they are manifested by no more than moderate muscle damage affecting Muscle Group XIII.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a malignant left testicular mass, finding that it was not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the inextricably intertwined issues of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in a November 17, 1999 rating decision for multiple myeloma on an accrued benefits basis, and whether to reopen the issue of entitlement to an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of laceration of the right arm with ulnar nerve impairment, finding that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria required for a 60 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the effective date for a 100 percent disability rating for schizoaffective disorder, bi-polar type is February 5, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits as he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements due to lack of wartime service.