Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for dysthymia, finding no evidence of a link between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's duodenal ulcer disease is currently manifested by no more than moderate manifestations with no active ulcer confirmed on recent evaluations, and no anemia or weight loss linked to ulcer disease. The disability is managed with medication.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for lymphoepithelioma due to new and material evidence submitted by the veteran, including his statements about exposure to herbicides in service. The claim will now be evaluated on its merits.

The veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracic spine and residuals of a fracture of the left sixth rib are rated at 10 percent each, effective from November 1, 1995.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected endometriosis with painful abdomen and urinary tract infections does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bladder dysfunction is not related to his service-connected back disability and therefore denied the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for obesity, finding no competent evidence relating his current obesity to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, post-operative residuals of surgical repair of the left anterior cruciate ligament avulsion and sprain of the left medial collateral ligament, does not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left ankle disability necessitated the use of a brace, which caused excessive wear and tear on his clothing. As such, the claim for an annual clothing allowance for the 1998 year is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder due to herbicide exposure, finding no evidence of any such condition and concluding that there is no positive association between herbicide exposure and the occurrence of a skin disease in humans.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for varicose veins in her left leg, finding that her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the right knee is granted. The RO denied claims for increased evaluation of a ganglion cyst and service connection for polyarthritis, lupus-related arthritis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, total hip arthroplasty, avascular necrosis, and shoulder conditions due to lack of evidence in the record.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the femoral neck on the right, finding that the disability was manifested by mild to moderate degenerative changes with loss of joint space and sclerosis of the femoral head and acetabulum. The medical evidence did not support a higher evaluation as there were no findings of nonunion or false joint formation.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current groin pull or inguinal hernia related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's Crohn's disease did not have its onset during service and is not related to his active military service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected conversion disorder does not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent, as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, acute myocardial infarction, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by his service-connected conditions. The appellant's assertions regarding a relationship between her husband's service-connected residuals of head trauma and his acute myocardial infarction were deemed insufficient due to lack of medical expertise.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted. The medical experts have opined that the veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam is a probable cause of his adenocarcinoma of the intestinal tract, which caused his death from metastatic colon cancer.

The Board found that the veteran's genitourinary dysfunction pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active service. Therefore, service connection for a urethral stricture is denied.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal because his substantive appeal was not filed within the required time limits.