Other conditions decisions — 2001

The Board has granted a compensable rating (10%) for tendinitis of the left foot, but denied increased ratings for sclerosis of the right and left great toes.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for duodenal ulcer, status post gastrectomy and vagotomy due to his failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in September 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of loan guaranty indebtedness, finding that collection would not be against the principles of equity and good conscience.

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims as he did not submit a timely and adequate substantive appeal for either issue.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right elbow, left buttock scars, and left calf and thigh scars. The conditions are rated as direct service connection without any presumption or secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cervical spine disorder, characterized by mild intervertebral disc disease with slight limitation of motion, warrants a 10 percent evaluation from December 15, 1992.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified, began during his active military service and is therefore granted service connection.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized private dental treatment expenses in 1997 was denied as the criteria for VA reimbursement were not met.

The VA determined that the veteran's right knee disability, which includes a patellar dislocation and chondrocalcinosis, does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10% evaluation.

The veteran withdrew his appeals for special monthly pension and higher ratings for restless leg syndrome of the right and left legs.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling the veteran for VA examinations to assess his right knee disability and tendinitis of the arms and Achilles tendon. The veteran's claims for service connection are also being reviewed.

The VA determined that the veteran's visual symptoms have been attributed to a known diagnosis of vitreous floaters and do not include objective indications of a chronic visual disorder due to an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's service-connected right hip degenerative joint disease and chronic right hip pain are currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition. The RO has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The veteran's claim for service connection for cardiovascular disease due to tobacco use is denied as the law prohibits such claims filed on or after June 9, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims regarding a rating for service-connected residuals of malaria, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in the March 1947 rating action. The issue of whether there was clear and unmistakable error in the March 1949 rating action is also pending.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral foot drop was not incurred in service or is not secondary to his service-connected low back disorder. The preponderance of evidence did not support the claim.

The veteran claims that his carcinoma of the bladder is due to tobacco use during service. The Board has determined that a VA examination and opinion are needed to determine if this claim should be granted.

The veteran is seeking service connection for cardiovascular disease. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination, is necessary to properly adjudicate the claim.

The Board has granted a higher disability rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected post traumatic stress disorder, effective from August 6, 1998.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination and consideration of all evidence.