Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and an increased rating for his service-connected psychoneurosis neurasthenia with a superimposed personality disorder, finding no evidence of chronic residuals from an inservice episode of furuncles and noting that the veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for gout, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected occipital scalp hidradenitis, currently evaluated at 30 percent. The condition is characterized by a severely disfiguring scar on the occipital scalp with no active lesions or systemic manifestations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and a deviated nasal septum, finding new and material evidence in support of these claims. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to May 8, 1996, for a 50 percent disability rating for his service-connected pulmonary histoplasmosis and right lung nodule was denied as the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred was May 8, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's death was caused or materially affected by VA medical treatment, specifically a failure to diagnose and treat his preexisting condition of transitional cell carcinoma in the left ureter. This decision grants dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal during the hearing before the Board.

The veteran's application for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred outside the VA health care system was denied because he did not meet the criteria for authorized or unauthorized medical care. The denial was based on his lack of established service-connected disabilities and other eligibility requirements.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange or his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as she did not continuously live with the veteran after their separation, which was due to her own fault and not the veteran's misconduct.

The March 1998 rating decision was not final at the time of a September 1998 rating decision, and thus the issue of clear and unmistakable error in that rating decision is dismissed.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for bilateral defective vision and denied entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance. The veteran's service-connected bilateral eye disorder is rated at 70 percent under Diagnostic Code 6069, effective from June 22, 1990.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease pre-existed service and was not aggravated by active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA benefits due to her spouse not having recognized military service with the United States Armed Forces, as certified by the National Personnel Records Center.

The veteran's death was not due to VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment. The cause of death was urosepsis, which is not attributed to the VA.

The veteran did not have a claim for unreimbursed unusual medical expenses for the year 2000 pending at the time of his death, and therefore, the appellant cannot seek accrued benefits based on such a claim.

The veteran's previously assigned 20 percent disability rating for post-operative small bowel resection with history of short bowel syndrome with malabsorption and anemia is restored, effective November 1, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran's memory loss and dizziness and/or lightheadedness are related to his head injury in service, with aggravation due to a motor vehicle accident during service.