Other conditions decisions — 2003

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, stating that pulmonary fibrosis was not caused by herbicide exposure or any other service-connected condition.

The veteran's service-connected enucleated left eye does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to his other, nonservice-connected disabilities.

The Board found no current evidence of disability associated with mycoplasma fermentans and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for improved pension benefits due to his excessive income, which exceeded the maximum annual pension rate.

The Board found that the debt of $3,303.00 for overpayment of nonservice-connected pension benefits was properly created and denied the veteran's request for a waiver of recovery.

The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for endometriosis and subsequent hysterectomy, finding that there was no evidence showing a chronic gynecological disorder during or after service.

The veteran's skin disability was not present in service and is not etiologically related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Board concludes that service connection for the veteran's claimed skin disability is not warranted.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a hydrocelectomy was denied, but he was granted special monthly pension benefits on account of the need for the aid and attendance of another person. The decision also noted that nursing home placement had been considered in the past.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for post-operative residuals of a right nephrectomy. The veteran's condition is now considered for service connection.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for cirsoid hemangioma involving the left ear, face, neck, and external carotid system.

The veteran does not have a diagnosed condition that meets the criteria for service connection, and there is no evidence of chronic joint stiffness during or immediately following his military service. The Board denied the claim as the veteran's symptoms began many years after discharge.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for gouty arthritis, finding that new evidence did not provide a more complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the origin of the condition.

The veteran's residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right chest and left heel are currently evaluated at 10 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under current VA regulations.

The Board finds that the veteran's current diagnoses of chronic diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome are related to his service-connected dysentery, which is granted as a direct connection.

The VA determined that the veteran's peptic ulcer disease did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as there was no objective evidence of an active disease causing symptoms once or twice yearly. The Board found that the most recent medical opinion suggested the pain might be due to other conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of improved nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, finding that repayment would not be against the principles of equity and good conscience.

The Board has found that the veteran perfected timely appeals of his claims for service connection for right bundle branch block and mild right atrial, right ventricular and inferior vena cava dilation (cardiovascular disability) and hematuria.

The Board determined that the veteran's gout did not begin during his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the causes of the veteran's death were not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death. The appellant was also determined not to be eligible for nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service. Accrued benefits claim is pending.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected lattice degeneration of the retina, both eyes, with associated atrophic holes. The evidence did not support a compensable evaluation.