Other conditions decisions — 2007

The veteran's Chapter 30 educational benefits are granted for the portion of his firefighter training with the Rochester, Minnesota Fire Department from May 19, 2005 to March 10, 2007.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if any of the veteran's current right elbow disabilities, including degenerative joint disease, are related to his service-connected surgery for cellulitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of myasthenia gravis, finding that no valid claim was filed prior to May 19, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's stasis ulcers and numbness of the right leg are not related to his service-connected coronary artery disease, status post-coronary artery bypass grafting with hypertension.

The veteran's costochondritis, a condition not well suited to any of the schedular rating criteria due to its similarity to heart attack symptoms and lack of in-service trauma or physical damage, causes frequent chest pain attacks that interfere with employment and require hospitalization. The Board has remanded this case for consideration of an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has restored the veteran's entitlement to a 100 percent schedular rating for structural brain changes, effective from December 9, 1962.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder and respiratory problems claimed as due to undiagnosed illnesses. The RO found no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to the veteran's military service.

The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied because he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause shown.

The veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of May 2, 2001, based on his service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board found that the veteran's cataracts were not present until many years after separation from service and were not caused by exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The peripheral vascular disease with deep venous thrombosis was not listed as a presumptive disorder under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309 or as a radiogenic disorder under § 3.311.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for TMJ dysfunction and joint laxity of the base of the thumbs, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's initial ratings for cold injury residuals of both lower extremities were granted and assigned.,For the period prior to April 11, 2001, the left and right lower extremity disabilities each received a 20 percent rating. For the period beginning on or after April 11, 2001, the left and right lower extremities both received a 30 percent rating.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 60% was proper, and the requirements for restoration have not been met. The reduction of his special monthly compensation rate for prostate adenocarcinoma and proliferative diabetic retinopathy from 100% to 50% or more was also found to be proper.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiomyopathy was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's stomach cancer, which caused his death in April 2003, was not incurred or aggravated by service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year from separation. The Board also concluded that the veteran's stomach cancer did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including a schizoaffective disorder, had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has raised questions about the exact nature and etiology of the veteran's claimed post-traumatic stress disorder due to service in Vietnam. The case is being remanded for further development, including verification of inservice stressors.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim for recognition as a veteran for VA benefits, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for Behcet's disease with defective vision, oral monilia, and severe and gross incoordination of all extremities.