Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's Reiter's syndrome is manifested by subjective complaints of pain in the hands, left ankle, left hip, and feet with minimal limitation of motion in the left ankle and left hip and a normal sedimentation rate. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent have not been met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hip disorder, claimed as status post bilateral ITB release, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to active service or initial manifestation within one year of separation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for interstitial lung disease with pulmonary fibrosis and multiple joint arthritis, finding that these conditions were not caused by exposure to ionizing radiation in service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that neither a service-connected disability nor any other condition contributed substantially or materially to cause the veteran's death.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in denying disability benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a cerebrovascular accident with homonymous hemianopsia, which occurred as a result of VA medical treatment.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing hematuria was not aggravated by his active military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's digestive system disability, primarily manifested by mild epigastric discomfort, nausea, belching, sour brash, acid reflux and nocturnal burning, is productive of considerable impairment of health. The Board finds that the disability picture more nearly approximates the criteria for a 30 percent evaluation.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 16, 1994 for the grant of disability benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a cerebrovascular accident with homonymous hemianopsia resulting from VA medical treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of herpes zoster, finding that the disability did not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's left lung disorder is not related to service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that his current condition began during or was caused by his military service.

The Board has granted the veteran's waiver request for overpayment of disability pension benefits, finding that recovery would be against equity and good conscience.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current schizoaffective disorder was first manifested during his period of service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found no evidence to support a service connection for the veteran's nasal disability, as it concluded that any current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for back disability (claimed as arachnoiditis) and gastrointestinal disability. The decision found that there was no competent evidence linking these conditions to service or any event therein.

The Board has determined that hyperlipidemia, a laboratory finding, is not a disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a right elbow and hand disability secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The veteran's death was due to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but the appeal is dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence is against the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including bilateral feet, ankles, hips, hands, left knee, lumbosacral and cervical spine. The evidence does not support a causal relationship to service, particularly his cold injuries in Korea.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left hand are currently manifested by complaints of numbness and pain between the middle and ring fingers, as well as grip weakness. The evaluation is granted at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's posttraumatic exostosis of the right calcaneo-cuboid joint causes marked limitation of motion, warranting a 20 percent evaluation.