Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board denied service connection for Mônière's syndrome and the reopening of a claim for a ruptured right eardrum. The veteran does not currently have Mônière's syndrome, and there is no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for a ruptured right eardrum.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and further review is required.

The Board found no evidence to support a rating in excess of the current 10% evaluation for the veteran's left foot injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's countable income for VA purposes exceeds the established limit, thus denying his claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The VA has determined that the veteran's lung disability warrants a 60 percent evaluation, effective from July 8, 1967.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ear disability, respiratory disability, and sinus disability due to a lack of evidence supporting these conditions as being related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left buttock warrant a 30 percent evaluation, reflecting moderate disability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected ventral hernia did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as there was no evidence of weakening of the abdominal wall or need for a supporting belt.

The VA denied a claim for an increased rating for pterygium of the right eye, finding that the veteran's best corrected vision was 20/40 in both eyes and did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for ulcerative colitis, finding that his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The veteran's service-connected heat intolerance disorder is currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7900. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation, as there is no competent evidence of increased pulse pressure or blood pressure, nor any hemoglobin less than 10 gm/100 ml.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected residuals of a back injury with pain and Grade I spondylolisthesis, currently rated at 20 percent. The disability is characterized by moderate limitation of lumbar spine motion.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's status postoperative saphenous ligation and varicose vein stripping, left leg condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of fractured right fifth finger metacarpal do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board found no direct or secondary service connection for the veteran's peripheral vascular disease of the right leg, as there was no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disorders, finding that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for arthritis, left leg. The issue is now on the merits.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses was denied because VA facilities were deemed accessible and feasible at the time of her emergency room visit. The case is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for further development, including notification of VA's duty to assist and informing the veteran about the relevance of new and material evidence in this claim.