Other conditions decisions — 2003

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board denied all claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's porphyria cutanea tarda was incurred in active military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's overpayment of Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits was waived due to the principles of equity and good conscience, given his financial situation and lack of intent to defraud.

The appellant's initial eligibility for educational benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code is established based on his service obligations and honorable discharges.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to muscle groups XV and XIII do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's current left knee disability, diagnosed as patellofemoral syndrome, is etiologically related to the knee pathology documented in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a ruptured navel, finding that no new and material evidence had been presented.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected left upper extremity disability did not warrant a higher rating as his symptoms, including reduced sensation and dexterity in the hand, were adequately addressed by the current 20 percent rating.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for ventral hernia. As a result, the claim is denied.

The Board found that the initial 30 percent evaluation assigned following the grant of service connection for the veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features was proper.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a gynecological disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have impotence, which is a condition for which service connection can be granted on a secondary basis due to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The evidence shows that while he experiences sexual problems when using certain positions during intercourse, he is not considered impotent.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his right zygomatic process fracture residuals was granted, and he is now rated at 10 percent for this condition. Additionally, the appeal to reopen service connection for ptosis of the right eye as secondary to a service-connected injury to the zygomatic arch was also granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for multiple lipomas was denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder of the feet and residuals of a puncture wound to the right side were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for recurrent urticaria, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation from January 12, 1998 onwards. The current maximum rating of 40 percent was deemed appropriate based on the criteria in effect at the time.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the residuals of a left Achilles tendon injury, effective from when the initial grant of service connection was made.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Achilles tendonitis with chronic posterior tibial tendon irritation is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.