Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's left elbow disability and denied service connection for a right elbow disability as secondary to his left elbow condition.

The Board granted service connection for Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT) due to exposure to herbicide agents used in Vietnam, with the presumption of exposure applying given the veteran's service in Vietnam during the relevant period. The diagnosis was established after separation from active duty.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected ear disability did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, finding that she did not submit new and material evidence.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date, finding that the veteran's disability status was no different in February 1997 than it had been in 1982 when he filed his initial service connection claim.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected pulmonary residuals due to bronchiectasis, finding that the current symptoms and findings did not warrant an increase.

The veteran's child, [redacted], reached the age of 18 and no longer qualifies for VA compensation apportionment. The Board found that the veteran was reasonably discharging his support obligation as evidenced by SSA benefits provided to the child.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right hand disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied as the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left buttock with damage to Muscle Group XVIII, finding that this level of impairment more nearly approximates moderately severe muscle disability.

The veteran's fungus of the feet is manifested by no more than constant exudation or itching, extensive lesions, or marked disfigurement. The criteria for a 30 percent disability rating have been met.

The Board found no evidence of a current sinus condition and concluded that the veteran's service did not cause his current sinus congestion.

The Board found that the veteran's left eye visual acuity is now 20/400, which does not meet the criteria for SMC based on loss of vision. Therefore, SMC was properly discontinued.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a grant of service connection for residuals of a traumatic amputation of the distal phalanx of the right index finger, finding that there was no evidence indicating a prior claim existed before April 5, 2000.

The veteran fractured his right tibia and fibula while playing recreational softball at the VA Domiciliary in Dublin, Georgia. The injury was not due to any fault or negligence on the part of the VA caretakers.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The veteran's appeal for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of pension benefits in the amount of $23,630 was dismissed as there is no further matter for the Board to review.

The veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred in November 1999 at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital is denied as he has not submitted a claim for the benefit.

The veteran's service-connected postoperative amputations of hammertoes in both feet have been increased to a 20 percent rating effective March 31, 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disorder and his claim of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran was found not to have established that he had a current disability related to his time in service, and his service-connected conditions did not render him unemployable.