Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of his VA indebtedness, finding that fault lay with the veteran and not VA. The decision also noted that repayment would not cause undue hardship.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for a right foot disorder, finding that there was no evidence of any such condition during or within one year after his military service. The Board concluded that the current right foot disorders did not have their onset in service and were not related to any injury or disease incurred therein.

The Board has determined that a remand of the veteran's increased rating claim is necessary to clarify the nature of his service-connected back disability and consider all pertinent rating criteria.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized private medical services for an acute myocardial infarction and subsequent heart surgery from March 8, 2000 to March 25, 2000 was denied because he did not have a service-connected disability.

The veteran's post-operative bilateral breast reduction with left silicone implant and bilateral microcalcifications is manifested by complaints of bilateral breast tenderness and pain, complete loss of left breast tissue, and no adherence, texture, or ulceration of scar or skin. She has a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a lung disability due to asbestos exposure, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's arthritis of the spine was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and is not proximately due to or the result of a disability of service origin. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for pyorrhea was denied as there is no evidence of current pyorrhea and the service medical records do not indicate any such condition. The Board also found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for outpatient dental treatment.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's bilateral varicose veins, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected myocardial infarction with post-operative repair of a left ventriculo-right atrial fistula has been manifested by no more than a history of substantiated anginal attacks, with ordinary manual labor feasible. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred idiopathic hypersomnia in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for the veteran's right knee disability, characterized as postoperative residuals of anterior cruciate ligament tear. The veteran was awarded a separate 10 percent evaluation for arthritis.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected otitis externa is denied as the condition already meets the maximum disability rating available under the Schedule.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disorder, which was previously denied due to pre-existing conditions. The new evidence indicates that the veteran's condition may have been aggravated during his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dry hands, intolerance of heat, and chronic cough with an obstructive lung defect are manifestations of an undiagnosed illness incurred during service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total rating for convalescence following an October 2000 right below-the-knee amputation, finding that the treatment was not for a service-connected disability.

The veteran's appeal for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic eye disorder during service and concluded that any current bilateral eye disorder is not related to the veteran's period of active duty.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's left ovarian cysts rating from 10% to noncompensable was appropriate, and denied her request for a compensable rating. The Board also noted that she currently does not have left ovarian cysts.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for gastritis, finding no new and material evidence since the RO's June 1996 decision.