Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board finds that the veteran did not sustain head trauma during service or within one year after separation, and his current organic brain syndrome is not shown to be related to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the veteran's punctured right eardrum, which occurred during service, is a result of his military service and grants him entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peptic ulcer disease does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for intervertebral disc disease, status post laminectomy.

The Board has determined that the veteran's urinary incontinence is related to his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a urinary tract disability, including as due to Agent Orange exposure and/or secondary to his service-connected prostate cancer. The VA found no medical evidence linking the current urinary tract infections to his military service or his service-connected condition.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected pneumoconiosis, finding that the recent respiratory symptoms were not due to the service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left eye loss of vision was not incurred or aggravated in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the loss of his hearing recording. He has been given an opportunity to appear for a new hearing at the RO.

The Board found that the cause of death, cardiorespiratory arrest with antecedent paraplegia and underlying wasting disease, was not caused by a service-connected disability. The evidence did not show any connection between these conditions and the veteran's active service.

The veteran's service-connected esophagitis and gastritis have been rated based on their current manifestations, with the highest ratings available under applicable diagnostic codes. The Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal is for an increased rating for his service-connected low back disorder. The Board finds that additional development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of his condition, is required.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected L1 compression fracture is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for mild degenerative changes, left acromioclavicular joint is being remanded due to scheduling issues.

The veteran's service-connected status post right upper lobectomy resulted in a DLCO (SB) of less than 40 percent predicted as of May 9, 2006, warranting a 100% evaluation. Prior to this date, the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The veteran's nasal fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for gunshot wound residuals of the right chest cavity is being remanded due to incomplete examination. The case must be reviewed and readjudicated after ensuring compliance with the directives.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to a change in the hearing officer. The veteran is entitled to a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lupus is not related to his service-connected low back injury or resulting degenerative arthritis, and thus denied his claim for service connection.