Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye blindness was not incurred in or aggravated by any incident of active military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for neuralgic pain due to injury to the trigeminal and occipital nerves, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for vasovagal syncope since January 30, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of pneumonia do not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent, as his pulmonary function tests results are within the range for a 10 percent disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for hernia.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's deviated septum, post-septoplasty condition is currently asymptomatic and does not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's prostatitis, which is currently rated at 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7527 (for prostate gland injuries, infections, hypertrophy, postoperative residuals), warrants a rating of 40 percent since June 16, 2003. The veteran has reported needing to change his absorbent materials two to four times per day due to urinary incontinence.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on March 7, 2001 is being remanded due to the need for additional development under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and other relevant regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound of the right arm does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's actinic keratoses of multiple sites, including his arms, hands, face, and neck, warrants a rating of 30 percent under the prior rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral decreased vision related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis and gastrointestinal disorder, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral heel spur residuals do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability evaluation, as they are currently evaluated at 10 percent each.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected septoplasty and rhinoplasty is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a nasal fracture do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as he only has a 50 percent obstruction on one side. As such, his claim is denied.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his eligibility for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits. However, the character of the appellant's discharge from service in June 1966 was found to be under dishonorable conditions, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The VA denied a compensable rating for the veteran's recurrent corneal abrasion of the right eye, finding that his condition is asymptomatic and manifested by stromal corneal scarring.

The veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints is denied as there is no competent evidence linking the current condition to his active military duty.