Other conditions decisions — 2006

The veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total disability rating based on the need for convalescence beyond February 28, 1996, was denied as her vision had returned to better than preoperative levels by that date.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal before a decision was made.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for his right lower extremity disability, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's urticaria is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted additional pension benefits for a home-schooled child from age 18 years, based on the appellant's son being enrolled in an approved educational institution.

The veteran's appeal to grant an effective date earlier than March 12, 1998 for the assignment of a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been withdrawn. As such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to consider this claim.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent evaluation is warranted for the veteran's right eye choroidal neovascular membrane, status post laser treatment. This decision reflects consideration of applicable provisions of the rating schedule and does not support any higher evaluation on an extra-schedular basis.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for chronic prostatitis and denied any increase in rating for duodenal ulcer disease.

The VA has determined that the veteran's fungal infection warrants a rating of 30 percent, which is the maximum available under current criteria. The condition does not meet the requirements for higher ratings based on exposure or other factors.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the residuals of head trauma are related to service or other in-service events.

The Board found that the veteran's vocational rehabilitation benefits were properly interrupted due to unsatisfactory conduct and cooperation in developing and implementing a program of rehabilitation services.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the veteran was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam, which could potentially establish service connection for his cause of death.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic stomach disorder in service, and the veteran's benign stomach tumor did not arise during or due to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected low back disability, finding that the evidence did not show that the condition warranted a higher rating based on its current manifestations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left lower extremity varicose veins do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating greater than 10 percent, as there is no evidence of persistent edema.

The Board dismissed the appellant's claim for payment of VA death pension, compensation, or dependency and indemnity compensation as the veteran's surviving spouse.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for multinodular goiter and benign prostate hypertrophy as there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of alcoholism as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The evidence did not establish a nexus between the veteran's PTSD and his alcoholism.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence provided, including statements from individuals who witnessed his alleged back injury during active duty training (ADT) in Egypt. The issue will be remanded to obtain additional medical records and personnel records.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability records and VA medical records.