Other conditions decisions — 2003

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 has granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent for the veteran's service-connected compression fracture of L2 vertebra, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left foot condition is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected subtotal gastrectomy with hypoglycemic episodes, diarrhea, and anemia is currently rated at the maximum schedular evaluation. The Board also finds that he is unemployable due to this condition alone, granting TDIU benefits.

The Board finds that the currently assigned 20 percent evaluation most nearly approximates the veteran's overall disability picture, as there is no evidence of definite impairment of health due to Still's disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral foot condition and lower back condition are service-connected, with hallux valgus of both feet and a small right paramedian herniated nucleus pulposus being granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is required as to the issue of service connection for residuals of a right hand injury due to missing VA treatment records and remanded the case for further action.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left femur fracture with leg length discrepancy is denied. The current ratings are found to be appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a dental injury, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his case.

The Board denied the appellant's appeal because he did not file a timely notice of disagreement (NOD) with respect to the denial of his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has granted a waiver of an overpayment of disability pension benefits in the amount of $8,753.00 due to the veteran's failure to promptly notify VA of his receipt of Social Security benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a sternum contusion and residuals of a dislocation of the left ring finger, finding no current disability as a result of these in-service injuries.

The veteran is due $1,236 in retroactive VA improved pension benefits for the year 1996.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an extension of his delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 1606, Title 10, United States Code because he did not meet the legal criteria for such an extension.

The veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the back with injury to Muscle Group XX does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation beyond 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection and higher initial evaluations for various disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current testicle disorder, and that his other disabilities have been evaluated appropriately.

The veteran's request for a hearing before the Board has been confirmed, and his claim to reopen service connection for ventral hernia is being remanded due to his desire for a hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's duodenal ulcer disease and hypertension do not warrant an increased rating, as there is no evidence of active ulcers or severe symptoms meeting higher criteria. The current ratings for these conditions are appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his duodenal ulcer, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 and 20 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected lower thoracic (dorsal) anterior vertebral wedging and back pain, as the evidence did not show that the disability warranted an increase beyond the current 10 percent rating.