Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Veteran's service-connected dysthymia was rated at 50 percent from March 25, 2005, due to symptoms including circumstantial speech, panic attacks, impairment of memory, impaired judgment, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and providing VCAA-compliant notice.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and new evidence is requested.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disability to include residuals of parasitic infection is not service-connected. The Board finds that the Veteran has a history of abdominal discomfort after service, which he attributes to his parasitic infection during service. However, there is no evidence of a chronic or permanent gastrointestinal disability associated with this parasitic infection. For the low back disability and bladder outlet obstruction/nerve injury claims under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, the Veteran's symptoms are not shown to be due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for macular degeneration and sterility, both claimed as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran is required to be provided with VA examinations to determine if his conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's right trochanteric bursitis is manifested by limitation of motion, but without flexion limited to less than 45 degrees. The criteria for an increased initial disability rating for right trochanteric bursitis have not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right femoral neck stress fractures do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected residuals of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are currently rated as noncompensable.

The Veteran's alcohol and drug problems are deemed to be the result of willful misconduct, thus precluding service connection. As a result, his claim for direct service connection is denied.

The Board found that varicose veins of the left leg did not clearly and unmistakably pre-exist service, but were not shown during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found no evidence of arthritis or degenerative joint disease during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as her current psychiatric symptoms do not meet the criteria for a service-connected disability, with no competent medical opinion linking any diagnosed condition to her time in service. Her personality disorder is considered unrelated to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's current scar on his forehead/head is a residual of an injury he sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the causes of the Veteran's death (cardiac arrest, hypotension, and pneumonia) were not related to his service-connected conditions or any other condition for which he was receiving VA benefits. The Board concluded that the cause of death did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's left scapula fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his neck injury with posttraumatic arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for impotence and pseudofolliculits barbae (PFB) are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining SSA disability records.

The VA denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder, attributing it to his post-service onset and lack of any link to military service or presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected conditions did not warrant an increased rating, as his right hand laceration and left hand fracture were not shown to cause any functional impairment or disability beyond what was already reflected in his current 10% ratings.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right ring finger disability and chronic prostatitis was denied. The Veteran's right ring finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent, while the chronic prostatitis remains at a non-compensable rating.