Other conditions decisions — 2002

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for a rotator cuff repair were denied as there was no emergency requiring immediate treatment, and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board found no evidence of current disability related to the veteran's claimed service injury and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the postoperative residuals of a right inguinal hernia with ilio-inguinal nerve impairment, including separate evaluations for the recurrent right inguinal hernia and the ilio-inguinal nerve impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for amputation of the right little finger, finding that there was no evidence in the service medical records to support this condition and that the veteran's statements were not consistent with the available evidence.

The veteran's right shoulder disability, characterized by mild tenderness and impaired range of motion, is currently rated at 20 percent under the applicable diagnostic code. The Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current functional impairment.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) found that the veteran's claimed mitral valve prolapse did not clearly and unmistakably preexist service, nor was it aggravated by military service. The Board concluded that MVP is a congenital disorder with no evidence of aggravation from service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected gastritis does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's cystitis with irritable voiding syndrome is manifested by a need to wear absorbent materials that must be changed more than four times per day, warranting a 60 percent rating.

The veteran's appeal of service connection for a skin disability has been dismissed as the veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's current dental condition, to include infected and rotted upper teeth, was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right eye infection with resultant loss of vision, finding that his current optical disability was not incurred in or aggravated by wartime service and could not be presumed to have been incurred during such service.

The Board denied a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent for residuals of a pilonidal sinus excision, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The VA has determined that the veteran's benign essential tremors do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as there is no evidence of incomplete paralysis of the hands. The condition remains noncompensable under the current rating criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including lung carcinoma, due to toxic chemical exposure in service. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board granted a partial waiver of the overpayment, allowing $1510.00 and denying $2192.00 due to the veteran's failure to report her income changes in a timely manner.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral vascular disease was not incurred during active duty and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected left (minor) navicular bone fracture residuals, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board found that the veteran was guilty of bad faith in creating an overpayment of improved disability pension benefits, and therefore denied waiver of recovery.

The Board has determined that the veteran's impotence and urinary dysfunction are not service-connected, as there is no medical evidence showing a causal link to VA treatment in November 1994. The claim for an increased rating for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed because he died during the pendency of his appeal.