Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's left pectoralis muscle strain preexisted service and was aggravated during service, thus granting her claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a fungus of the upper body, finding no evidence to support its development during service and noting that current disability is not shown.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure due to pneumonia and carcinoma of the lung, was not caused by his service-connected schizophrenia. The evidence did not support a finding that any of his service-connected conditions contributed substantially and materially to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's irritable bowl syndrome warrants a rating of 30 percent, which is in excess of the current 10 percent assigned. This decision is based on the evidence showing moderate symptoms consistent with Diagnostic Code 7319.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for variously diagnosed eye disorders, finding that his preexisting conditions did not worsen during service and were not related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disability, claimed as secondary to herbicide exposure, and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for post traumatic stress disorder. The medical evidence does not support a finding that either basil cell carcinoma or keratoma is related to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected bilateral hallux valgus/bunions does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, and thus denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran currently suffers from residuals of a neck injury sustained during service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for bladder neck obstruction and found that the veteran's impotence does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The veteran is entitled to an increased evaluation for his bladder neck obstruction, but no compensation for impotence or special monthly compensation.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left foot disorder, manifested by tyloma between the 4th and 5th metatarsal heads as residual of a plantar wart excision, does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his residuals of left inguinal pain, status post left varicocele surgery times two, and left symptomatic varicocele as it does not meet the criteria to be assigned a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a head injury, including cerebrovascular accident is denied as there is no evidence to support a current disability related to his in-service head injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, which he claimed was caused by Agent Orange exposure during his military service. The evidence did not show any current diagnosis of chloracne or other Agent Orange-related skin disorders and there was no medical opinion linking the current condition to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right elbow disability significantly contributed to causing his right hip fracture, and therefore grants secondary service connection for residuals of a right hip fracture.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen his service connection for a left ear disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not received. The Board noted that the appellant had a preexisting left ear disorder before service which did not worsen during service.

The veteran's postoperative duodenal ulcer is rated at 40 percent, which approximates the schedular criteria for a moderate disability.

The Board found that the veteran's narcolepsy was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy and there was no credible evidence of a verified traumatic incident in service. The diagnosis of PTSD is based on history provided by the veteran, without supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board found that the veteran's current respiratory disability is not related to his treatment for bronchitis and pneumonia during service, and thus denied his claim of entitlement to service connection.

The veteran's injury of Muscle Group XIV was rated at 10 percent as of November 14, 2000. Prior to that date, the rating remained at noncompensable.