Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's gastrointestinal disorder to his service, and denied his claim.

The Board found that the veteran's skin condition, including as a result of exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral heel condition due to new and material evidence submitted since the October 1994 rating decision.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's postoperative residuals of benign prostatic hypertrophy, currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his gunshot wound residuals, finding that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of his conditions.

The Board denied an increased rating for conjunctivitis, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's nonservice-connected obsessive-compulsive disorder precludes substantially gainful employment, meeting the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left hemispheric cerebrovascular accident, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his in-service headaches and the disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder are not associated with his active military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability and denied the claim for service connection for heart irregularities.

The Board denied service connection for cellulitis of the left leg, arthritis of multiple joints, and a respiratory condition in July 2000. The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent since March 14, 2002.

The Board found that the February 1998 rating decision to reduce the veteran's disability rating from 50 percent to 30 percent was incorrect due to an error in calculating the average concentric contraction of his visual fields. The correct application of the criteria would have resulted in a 50 percent evaluation, which is denied.

The Board determined that the veteran forfeited all rights, claims, and benefits under all laws administered by VA (except laws pertaining to insurance benefits) due to knowingly submitting false documentation in support of his claim for additional educational benefits.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right ring finger, finding that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to any incident of service. The appeal regarding Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C., chapter 35 is also denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral metatarsalgia and callosities of the left foot do not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current ratings.

The veteran's service-connected left femur fracture is currently productive of moderate hip and knee disability, warranting a 20% evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for emphysema, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated during his military service and is not otherwise related to service. The change in law regarding tobacco use in service also precludes service connection for nicotine dependence or the residuals of smoking.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his ventral incisional hernia, currently rated at 20 percent. The BVA found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as the veteran's hernia is small and operable.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, for periods of enrollment extending from June 1992 to December 1997 due to lack of legal basis and failure to provide notice.