Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for head trauma with memory loss, finding that there was no credible evidence of a head injury in-service and thus no current disability to support a grant of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left ear perforated ear drum, hyperplastic left mastoiditis, and status post mastoidectomy with otitis media effective from March 18, 1976. The rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis, but denied both his claims for arthralgia and neuralgia as they are not considered actual disabilities.

The Board denied reopening the claim due to lack of new and material evidence, but also noted that the appellant's intoxication at the time of the accident was not addressed in the previous decision.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The veteran's depressive disorder was manifested by symptoms such as sleep impairment, irritability, impaired memory and concentration, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, neglect of personal appearance and hygiene, and social isolation. The Board determined that the former criteria for a schedular evaluation of 100 percent for depressive reaction from April 24, 1992 through December 22, 1998 were met.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected compression fractures of the thoracic spine do not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as there is no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or other disabling conditions warranting a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35 due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between the veteran's military service and his death.

The Board found that the veteran's death was caused by myelodysplasia, which is linked to exposure to radiation during service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury and a skin disorder, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board denied an increase in a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected stone in the salivary duct, finding that his symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's service-connected L2 compression fracture residuals with arthritis are currently evaluated at 20 percent, and an additional 10 percent evaluation is granted for the demonstrable deformity of the L2 vertebral body.

The Board found that the veteran's injuries were not incurred in line of duty due to his own willful misconduct and alcohol abuse, resulting from an intoxicated state at the time of the accident.

The Board found that the cause of death was atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is not related to service or any service-connected condition. The appellant's contentions were not supported by competent medical evidence.

The veteran's adjustment disorder is not shown to have resulted in considerable industrial impairment, and the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral bunions were not incurred during or as a result of active service, and are not proximately due to or the result of her service-connected callosities. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left foot disability, specifically fibrous ankylosis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent. The evidence shows moderately severe symptoms but no severe symptoms.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of heat exhaustion, finding no competent evidence to show that he currently suffers from a disability as a result of such heat exhaustion.

The Board found that the veteran's decreased visual acuity is due to refractive error and not related to service-connected keratoconjunctivitis, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's request for a rating in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected psychotic disorder and also denied TDIU benefits, finding that the evidence did not warrant such ratings.