Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to the decision being made.

The appellant's claim for non-service-connected disability pension benefits was denied as he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements due to his service in the Philippines.

The Board found that the veteran's stomach disorder, including duodenitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral Leber's optic atrophy, concluding that the condition preexisted service and was not aggravated therein.

The VA determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for gastrointestinal pathology. The Board found that no current gastrointestinal disorder is causally related to the veteran's active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus at L4-5, status post fusion, is due to an injury incurred during a period of active duty for training. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a 30 percent initial rating for the veteran's post traumatic stress disorder, effective from July 10, 1996. The appeal is pending regarding entitlement to an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the spine, concluding that it is unlikely the veteran's current condition was incurred in or related to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's cysts were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and specifically denied service connection for residuals of removal of keratinous epidermal inclusion cysts of right hip and right wrist due to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's hypertension has led to significant heart enlargement and dyspnea on exertion, warranting a 60% disability rating.

The veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for an increased rating is denied. The initial noncompensable evaluation assigned for her right foot swelling remains unchanged.

The competent medical evidence of record does not establish a relationship between the veteran's cardiovascular disorder and his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for the veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis media with left postoperative cholesteatoma, finding no evidence of active infection or disease process in either ear.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for postoperative residuals of a bone spur, left heel was granted. The RO also granted service connection for chronic muscle strain of the right hip and assigned a noncompensable rating effective from November 1, 1996.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of an eye injury due to new and material evidence submitted since the September 1989 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cysts on his face, neck and chest as well as a tumor of the left testicle. The denial was based on lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for multiple joint arthritis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a direct link to his active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's atrophy of the testicles with history of ecchymosis began during service and was either caused or aggravated by his in-service injuries, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shrapnel wound of the left pleural cavity with retained foreign bodies, as his disability is currently rated at 20 percent and does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for residuals of a left orchiectomy, which was initially denied in December 1983. The decision is based on the fact that the provided evidence does not relate the condition to service.