Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board found that the appellant's bad conduct discharge from service was a bar to VA benefits due to willful and persistent misconduct, including unauthorized absence and writing bad checks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current genitourinary disability, including prostatitis, urethritis, and dysuria, is not service-connected as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected hiatal hernia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypercholesterolemia is denied as a matter of law because hypercholesterolemia is not recognized as a disability under the law for VA compensation purposes. The Veteran was scheduled for a hearing before the Board, but his active duty status during that time complicates this process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental condition and an increased rating for duodenal ulcer was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the presence of a present disability resulting from in-service trauma or disease other than periodontal disease, thus denying service connection for the dental condition. For the duodenal ulcer, the Veteran's symptoms were considered to be mild and recurrent, without substantial weight loss or incapacitating episodes warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease with reflux disease and hiatal hernia is characterized by epigastric tenderness, pain, diarrhea, hematemesis, and melena. The Board finds that the criteria for an initial evaluation of 20 percent have been met.

The Board has granted service connection for right hand tendonitis but denied service connection for a sleep disorder, finding that the Veteran's current sleep impairment is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for narcolepsy is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for spinal and nerve trauma he contends occurred as a result of VA vocational rehabilitation. The Board finds that further development, including obtaining medical records and an examination, is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current back condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic prostatitis, right leg varicose veins, and left leg varicose veins were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeal for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made. The issue of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence submitted by the appellant after the last supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's service in Vietnam and Thailand, as well as his exposure to herbicides. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's current respiratory disabilities are unrelated to his in-service granuloma of the right lung with wedge resection and denied a compensable disability rating for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. O.A., scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's skin eruptions disability, and complying with the May 2011 Memorandum Decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is denied because there is no competent and credible evidence of a current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder. The preponderance of the evidence shows that his personality disorders are not diseases or injuries subject to service connection.

The Veteran's left index finger fracture has been rated as noncompensable due to full range of motion and no functional impairment.

The Veteran's left hip contusion and strain with residuals are not productive of flexion limited to 30 degrees, ankylosis, or limitation of abduction beyond 10 degrees. As such, the criteria for a higher disability rating have not been met.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for thoracic outlet syndrome affecting the left upper extremity was granted, with a 30 percent rating effective December 29, 2006. The current rating is in line with the severity of his symptoms and functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about the appellant's marital status and school records, scheduling a VA examination to determine if the appellant was permanently incapable of self-support at age 18, and determining whether he is now capable of self-support.