Other conditions decisions — 2007

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities are denied as there is no evidence of persistent edema or stasis pigmentation, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7120.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 23, 2003, for a 60 percent rating for pemphigus. The earliest date upon which it is factually ascertainable that the veteran's service-connected pemphigus met the criteria for a 60 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7815 was April 23, 2003, when he was prescribed prednisone.

The veteran's bilateral blepharitis and conjunctivitis are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the current evidence.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for post concussion syndrome was denied as there is no valid claim in the matter.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board denied an increased rating for bronchiectasis of the right lung, status post thoracotomies with restrictive lung disease.

The veteran's gastrointestinal disorder was not due to additional disease or injury from VA carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or some other incident or fault. The Board found no evidence that the VA clinician erred in prescribing Naprosyn.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left Achilles tendon injury was denied as he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board finds that the veteran's DVT and superficial vein thrombophlebitis of the right lower extremity is as likely as not due to an injury sustained during his period of active service. However, there is no evidence linking any current left leg manifestations to service or radiation exposure.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death (hip fracture and primary central nervous system lymphoma) to service or any service-connected condition, thus denying service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a heart murmur, finding no current disability due to service.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for calcified granulomas of the lungs is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and the retrieval of medical records.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for recognition of her adopted children, L.R.A. and C.G.A., as adoptive children of the veteran for purposes of payments of additional VA benefits due to a delay in issuance of an adoption decree within two years of the veteran's death.

The veteran's Perthes disease, right hip, is currently rated at 10 percent and the appeal for a higher rating has been granted.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board finds that he is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's current varicose veins are unrelated to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, as they do not result in loss of either foot.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and to determine if service connection for PTSD can be established.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for left bundle branch block, but it is unclear whether this condition was incurred or aggravated by service due to its congenital nature.