Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The denial was based on a lack of evidence to support the claimed PTSD.

The Veteran's current left retrocalcaneal bursitis was incurred during active duty service and the Board finds that she is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had periodontal disease during active service and cardiovascular disease arose many years after service. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's vocational rehabilitation benefits eligibility termination date had expired, and he did not meet the qualifying criteria for an extension. The appeal is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have varicose veins of the right leg that were caused or aggravated by any incident of active service or a service-connected disorder.

The Veteran's service did not occur during a period of war, thus he is not eligible for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Veteran's skin disorder and TDIU have been restored effective from August 1, 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's low sperm count is not due to herbicide exposure or any other event of his period of active service. The appeal was denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's back pain is not service-connected and does not warrant an initial compensable evaluation for his right inferior pelvic rami fracture.

The Board found that the additional evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral optic nerve atrophy. Therefore, the claim was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits purposes due to her having been legally divorced from the Veteran at the time of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for large L5-S1 broad-based disc herniation, finding that the Veteran's low back disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for triceps tendonitis of the right elbow and dupuytren's contracture of the right hand, finding that neither condition warranted a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's private medical care provided from December 26, 2006 to December 27, 2006 at St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma was not authorized in advance by VA and did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment as defined under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post-operative residuals of a right bunionectomy is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a genitourinary condition, claimed as a bladder condition, finding that there was no evidence to support the claim and that the pre-existing conditions were not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his right knee disability is granted, but the reduction of his left knee rating from 20 to 10 percent is found to be improper and void.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the residuals of a wound to the left leg, effective from February 22, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of PVD of the lower extremities as secondary to Type II diabetes mellitus has been withdrawn.