Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that the veteran's current chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, began during his active service and is related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot condition, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim. The current foot conditions are not related to an injury or disease of service.

The veteran's appeal from the denial of service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal disorder was not resolved until his claim for post-operative colon cancer residuals including ulcerative colitis and total colectomy and colostomy residuals was granted effective January 20, 2000. The Board found that the May, June, and September 1951 rating decisions denying service connection were not final.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 30% rating for mitral valve prolapse, finding that the veteran was not entitled to such a rating prior to January 12, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's stress urinary incontinence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current visual impairment to his military service or any service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the veteran's disability evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent effective October 1, 1996 was appropriate based on improvement shown in his disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gouty arthritis and degenerative changes of the right foot, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected right ankle disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are proximately due to or the result of the service-connected right ankle injury residuals.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting right eye condition did not worsen during service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current disability from an organic brain disorder related to his service, and thus is not entitled to service connection for residuals of brain trauma.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 10 percent for the veteran's hiatal hernia, effective from the date service connection was established.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for pelvic instability, right sacroiliac joint and denied entitlement to TDIU.

The veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for malaria and a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability were denied. The Board found that the veteran does not have active malaria or any symptomatic residuals, and his service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for leukemia and a skin rash, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the veteran's post-operative osteochondritis dissecans of the right knee and assigned a separate 10 percent rating for arthritis of the same knee. The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic respiratory disability, including nasopharyngitis and chronic lung disease, finding that his current condition did not develop during or as a result of his military service.

The Board denied service connection for lactose intolerance, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hyperlipemia, and prostatitis all claimed as due to exposure to radiation.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of unauthorized private hospital care received in November 1996 was denied because he did not have a total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability, and he was not participating in a rehabilitation program under 38 U.S.C. ch. 31.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of a $5,686 overpayment of pension benefits because it was not timely filed within the required 180-day period.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim that his character of discharge from service is not a bar to VA benefits. However, the Board concluded that he was discharged under conditions other than honorable and thus remains barred from receiving VA benefits.