Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for alcoholism and his petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for pancreatitis. The decision found that the veteran's alcoholism was not related to his service-connected Crohn's disease or ureterolithiasis, and that there is no clear medical evidence establishing a relationship between his alcoholism and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected ventral hernia does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent, as it is not manifested by massive, persistent, severe diastasis of recti muscles or extensive diffuse destruction or weakening of muscular and fascial support of abdominal wall so as to be inoperable.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to his service or any service-connected disabilities, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's hidradenitis suppurative of the scalp and groin is rated at 50 percent effective from April 28, 2006. The tender graft scar of the buttocks and scrotum associated with hidradenitis suppurative of the scalp and groin remains at a 10 percent rating. The veteran's colostomy scar continues to be noncompensable.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left eye disability, resulting in denial of the reopening request.

The Board has found that the veteran's current chronic right ear disorder, including otitis media and radical mastoidectomy residuals, is related to his service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peptic ulcer disease is not related to his active service and denied the claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected recurrent cystic cellulitis is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of new medical records.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his colon cancer is denied as the evidence does not support a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board and RO have denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for brain damage and left eye blindness, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's avascular necrosis of the right and left hips is not related to his service-connected low back strain, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim.

The VA excisional biopsy of the left quadriceps muscle in May 2002 did not result in any additional disability to the veteran, and thus compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no medical evidence of record demonstrating any acute or chronic pericarditis or its sequelae, and thus the veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for benign pericarditis cannot be granted.

The veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected fracture, simple, transverse process L4 is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the examiner's opinion and a more contemporary examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disorder, diagnosed as prurigo nodularis, is not related to his military service or presumed Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran did not have combat duty and there was no verified in-service stressor. Therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a right hand injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as his claim for an increased evaluation for bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding that any current conditions are related to active service.

The veteran's combined disability rating is 50%, which does not meet the criteria for a TDIU. The Board denied his claim as he did not meet the schedular requirements and extra-schedular consideration was also not warranted.