Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board found that the veteran's left orchiopexy with testalgia is manifested by chronic pain and tenderness, but not severe enough to warrant a higher evaluation. The condition does affect his daily life and ability to do any active sports or very active activities.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the left fifth rib, finding that there is no evidence of current functional impairment due to this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities, and that VA medical treatment did not cause or contribute to his death. The claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.

The veteran's claims for compensation benefits for pulmonary fibrosis and a higher initial disability rating for an unstable sternum were denied as there was no evidence linking the conditions to the treatment received during his VA hospitalization.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of schizoaffective disorder, finding that no evidence supports a claim prior to July 15, 1997.

The Board denied an effective date prior to May 29, 1991 for the grant of service connection for neurogenic bladder with urinary retention.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing left club foot disorder was not aggravated during active service beyond its natural progression.

The Board denied service connection for a foot disorder in August 1990, finding that the veteran's pre-existing condition worsened during service and that no new disability was incurred.

The Board has determined that the earliest effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is October 21, 1991. However, due to the veteran's loss of employment within one year of submitting an informal claim in June 1992, the effective date was adjusted to March 2, 1994.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, finding that there was no evidence to support his contention and that he did not suffer from such injuries during military service.

The Board denied claims for upper respiratory disability, tonsillectomy, migraine headaches, chronic photodermatitis, and residuals of a cyst behind the right ear. The effective date for service connection for migraine headaches was also denied.

The Board found that the July 3, 1972 motor vehicle accident and any associated back injury were not the result of the veteran's own willful misconduct.

The Board has determined that the veteran's urinary incontinence is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected residuals of a compression fracture of T11-T12, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. The evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a compression fracture of T11-T12 remains at 20 percent.

The VA has granted an initial increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's residuals of facial trauma with multiple fractures, effective from July 1, 1990. The other claims for increased ratings for the left clavicle and right radial styloid have not been resolved.

The Board found that the veteran's mitral valve prolapse met the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating from October 2, 1995 to January 11, 1998.

The Board finds that the veteran's current gynecological status, including chronic pelvic pain and anovulation, is likely attributable to her service-connected conditions such as PID and PCOS. The Board grants service connection for these disabilities.

The Board found that the submitted evidence was not new and material to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for a nervous condition, as it did not provide any new information linking the veteran's psychiatric disability to his military service.

The veteran's daughter is granted DEA benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, for periods of enrollment prior to October 1, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran does not have any disability of the hands currently related to service or any events therein.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the 100% rating for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from October 1, 2001 is not warranted.