Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's defective vision of the right eye, as a residual of an in-service right eye injury, is service-connected.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst and postoperative scar have been rated as a noncompensable disability. The Board has granted a compensable rating of 10% for the residual scar.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a private facility on March 29, 2006 is granted as the treatment was related to a nonservice-connected disability and met all criteria under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's edentulous mandible with rampant caries and periodontal disease does not warrant a disability rating greater than 10 percent.

The Veteran's knee disorders have been rated at 10 percent since June 1, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either knee.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mood disorder with short-term memory loss is proximately due to or the result of service-connected disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran currently suffers from an adjustment disorder and a personality disorder, but not an acquired psychiatric disorder such as PTSD. The VA examiner's diagnosis was considered more probative than other diagnoses due to its comprehensive review of the Veteran's medical history and service treatment records.

The Board found that the cause of death, pulmonary edema, was not related to service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the veteran's current back disorder is related to his military service or post-service accidents.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent since April 8, 2004. Prior to that date, the rating was also 40 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left ear infections, finding no new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim.

The Board found that the Veteran's right arm disorder was not caused by VA treatment, and therefore denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center from February 20, 2005 to March 14, 2005 were denied as the VA found that he was stable enough to be safely transferred to a VA facility after his initial treatment.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed rib disability and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's current skin disorders, including basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are considered to have been incurred as a result of his extensive sun exposure during service.

The Board has determined that additional development of the evidence is required, including obtaining VA medical treatment records from around the time of the Veteran's release from active service in October 1987 to the present and arranging for a VA orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative left bunionectomy is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available.

The Veteran's mild radiculopathy of the lower extremities is caused by his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for improved pension benefits due to his income exceeding the statutory limits, regardless of his honorable service.