Other conditions decisions — 2000

The veteran's prostatitis is manifested by intermittent infections, some outlet obstruction for which he declines surgery, a smooth prostate on examinations for the past year, a normal urinary analysis for the past year, and complaints of incomplete emptying, urgency, weak stream, straining to void, waking up to urinate four times a night, and urinating more frequently than every two hours. The criteria for a rating greater than 10 percent are not met.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for bowel and bladder disorder and stomach disorder, as well as the earlier effective date claim for lumbosacral strain disability. The total disability rating based on individual unemployability was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for VA outpatient dental treatment, finding that his current dental condition is not associated with or aggravating any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as the veteran's claimed stressors during his service in Vietnam have been confirmed.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that chronic myelogenous leukemia was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and could not be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board also found that the service-connected cluster headaches did not contribute substantially or materially to the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for waiver of recovery of loan guaranty indebtedness was timely filed, and thus granted the claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of syphilis was denied by the RO. The VA examiner found no current disability related to syphilis during service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's hypoplasia of the left upper and lower extremities with leg length discrepancy was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty training (ADT). The condition is considered a congenital defect, and there is no evidence to suggest it worsened during ADT. As such, service connection cannot be established.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, diagnosed as traumatic chondromalacia of the left patella, warrants a 10 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5003. The condition is currently rated based on limitation of motion and does not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The veteran's claim of service connection for dementia pugilistica (formerly cerebral dysfunction) was granted, effective from March 4, 1993. The RO assigned a 30% rating for this condition.

The veteran's atrophy of the testicles is determined to be a result of mumps orchitis he experienced during service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's application for Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (RH) was denied as not timely filed due to the original one-year period following notification of service connection for his low back disability in July 1975.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right hand disability, characterized by ankylosis of the index, long, ring, and small fingers, does not warrant a rating in excess of 60 percent.

The veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed as the substantive appeal did not allege specific errors of fact or law. The nervous disorder claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to warrant reopening the veteran's claim for service connection of a liver disorder.

The veteran's service connection for dental trauma resulting in the extraction of tooth number twelve is granted.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a stress fracture to the left 2nd metatarsal are rated at 10 percent, effective from June 3, 1997. The claim for higher initial rating is granted.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the appellant's hallux valgus deformity with bunions and hammertoes of the second, third, and fourth toes of the left foot, effective from the date of receipt of his claim on October 9, 1997.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed respiratory, skin, and joint disorders were not incurred or aggravated by active service. The claims for these conditions are denied.

The Board found that the veteran's complaints of foot pain were not related to his service-connected frozen feet and did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.