Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the appellant's service-connected psychological factors affecting medical condition, rule out undifferentiated somatoform disorder. The condition is currently controlled by continuous medication and does not significantly impair the appellant's occupational or social functioning.

The Board found no evidence of a current right arm or neck disability that is related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection and a compensable evaluation for gastrointestinal bleeding based on the absence of current disability as determined by a March 1991 VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot fungal infection and dismissed his appeal regarding an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic pancreatitis is related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal as he did not file a substantive appeal for service connection of actinic keratosis on his head, ears and cheeks. The TDIU claim was adjudicated separately.

The Board has not yet decided the case, but is remanding it for a videoconference hearing due to the appellant's failure to appear.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of epididymitis and left varicocele, finding no increase in disability during service. The veteran's preexisting conditions were not aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA pension benefits was validly created and that repayment would not cause undue financial hardship. The veteran's fault in creating the debt, combined with the lack of fault on the part of VA, resulted in a decision to grant the waiver.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of compensation benefits in the amount of $3,049.70 due to his bad faith conduct in failing to notify VA of his reentrance into active military service.

The Board has ordered the RO to address whether the veteran timely appealed for an earlier effective date prior to October 30, 1996. The claim will be remanded until this issue is resolved.

The Board granted service connection for Thygeson's eyes (superficial punctate keratitis) and assigned a 10 percent evaluation, effective from separation. The rating is based on the veteran's eye pain, frequent episodes of foreign body sensation in each eye, need to take breaks during work, and episodic incapacity during severe flare-ups.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied as there is no evidence of additional disability caused by VA treatment.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected symptomatic spondylolysis at L5, currently rated as 40 percent disabling.

The VA has denied a compensable evaluation for otitis externa as there is no current or recent diagnosis of the condition, and the medical evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Board found that the appellant's fungal infection of the toes is not related to his period of active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's psychogenic fugue warrants a 10 percent disability evaluation, reflecting occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) from May 4, 2001, based on pronounced symptoms with marked limitation of motion and frequent exacerbations.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of arthritis of multiple joints, which was previously denied in 1957. The decision is based on additional medical evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the initial 30 percent evaluation for residuals of a laparotomy with small bowel adhesion to right ovary and partial loss of left ovary is proper, while the initial noncompensable evaluation for residuals of cholecystectomy is also proper.