Other conditions decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected recurrent urinary tract infections with neurogenic bladder, postoperative, is currently rated at 60 percent and the Board finds that this rating is not warranted for an increased evaluation.

The veteran is seeking service connection for residuals of cold injury in both upper extremities. The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these claims, given his reported symptoms and history.

The veteran's right Achilles tendonitis is not rated as compensable, but he has been granted service connection for left Achilles tendonitis.

The veteran is seeking reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital. The Board has ordered the VA to obtain missing records and provide a medical opinion on the stability of the veteran's condition, which will determine if he was stable enough to transfer from the private facility to a VA facility.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected disabilities of the right eye and left eye, finding that his visual acuity did not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for the repair or replacement of an inground pool heater through Independent Living Services was denied. The case is being remanded to obtain necessary documents and ensure proper adjudication.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a duodenal ulcer. The veteran's pre-existing duodenal ulcer was aggravated by active duty service, leading to current symptoms.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, including costochondritis and thoracic spine scoliosis, finding that there is no medical evidence showing a direct link to his active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's current gastrointestinal disorder is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating for left Achilles tendinitis with a spur was granted, and he is currently rated at 10 percent since July 13, 1994.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip disorders, finding that the veteran's current bilateral hip disorder is related to his service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder on a direct basis, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD that is linked to a verified in-service stressful event, and thus service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not have service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, and there is no competent medical evidence linking a currently existing right upper extremity disability to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left upper arm do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell carcinoma as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and the veteran's self-reported history was not supported by medical evidence.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a prostate disorder, including prostatitis. The veteran's current prostate problems were deemed unrelated to his service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx, finding no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his active service.

The veteran's disability, characterized by severe incomplete paralysis of the twelfth cranial nerve (hypoglossal), warrants a rating of 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for tremors due to herbicide exposure, but granted an increased rating of 10% for PTSD and set the effective date at March 18, 2002.