Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board determined that the veteran's detached retina surgery on July 6, 2001 was provided on an emergent basis for unauthorized medical services and granted payment or reimbursement under the Millennium Bill Act.

The Board has ordered additional development for the veteran's claims, including a more recent VA examination to assess his service-connected psychiatric disability and any adverse effects of medications prescribed by the VA. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is also remanded due to confusion regarding the proper legal criteria.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected dermatophytosis, which involves chronic persistent dermatitis of the hands and fungal infection of the feet.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of a urethroplasty and left foot bunionectomy with recurrence of hallux valgus are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and an increased rating for his right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of residuals of a right inguinal hernia and granted it. The claim for a compensable disability rating for laceration of the chin is pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly evaluate the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for Reiter's syndrome, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a pituitary tumor, including based on exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not establish that the pituitary tumor was related to service or any incident of service, specifically in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection of a skin disorder. The claim is granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his postoperative left inguinal hernia is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of staged ratings.

The veteran is not entitled to receive additional disability compensation for his oldest and middle daughters as they were over 18 years old at the time of their 18th birthdays.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic acquired variously diagnosed dermatological disorder is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected adjustment disorder associated with impotence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected arthritis of the sacroiliac joints does not warrant an increased evaluation beyond the current 40 percent rating. The claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is also denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of service connection for residuals of a left eye injury prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for basic eligibility for educational assistance under Chapter 32, Title 38, United States Code due to his not meeting the basic requirements for such benefits as he did not enter active duty after December 31, 1976.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for further verification of the appellant's military service. The appellant claims he served as guerillas during World War II, but his father does not have recognized military service with U.S. Armed Forces. The NPRC needs to verify if the appellant himself has any recognized military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for recognition as a former POW, finding that his internment in Switzerland did not meet the criteria for POW status due to lack of detention by an enemy government and insufficient evidence of hardships comparable to those experienced by POWs held by enemy governments.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The claim for TDIU was based on the combined disability evaluation of dysthymia, left superficial peroneal nerve injury, ankylosis of the left ankle with surgical residuals, and a left ankle scar.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed chronic skin disorder, eye disorder, and genitourinary disorder are not related to his service or exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for SLE, finding no evidence of the condition in service or subsequent to service. The claim was also denied for an increased rating for DLE and for a TDIU.