Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's right eye disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by arthritis and patellar tendonitis, has been rated at 20 percent since July 20, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by joint pain, and it is not secondary to PTSD. Therefore, service connection for these conditions cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a separate evaluation of residuals from a right radical nephrectomy is dismissed as the issue has been resolved by the grant of service connection and an initial rating. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD is also dismissed due to his withdrawal of this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of shell fragment wound to the chest with left pneumothorax do not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.,There is no evidence of a current cardiovascular disability, including hypertension, due to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of shell fragment wound to the heart area.

The Veteran's right hip disorder is not service connected and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's and her child's combined annual income exceeds the maximum allowable pension rate, thus denying the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran's chronic allergic urticaria has been rated at 10 percent since October 1, 2004. The Board found that the Veteran had recurrent episodes of urticaria occurring four times during the past year and his condition responded to treatment with antihistamines.

The Veteran's spouse is denied death pension benefits as her remarriage to another person constitutes a bar to receiving these benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected eosinophilic esophagitis with stricture, dysmotility, and esophageal ring warrants a 30 percent disability rating for the entire initial rating period.

The Veteran's widow is in receipt of DIC benefits due to her late husband's death and is permanently incapacitated, requiring regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for high cholesterol, chronic headaches (as part of reopening a previously denied claim), and service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and TDIU. The decision also noted that an effective date prior to April 5, 2000 for maxillary sinusitis was not granted.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip disorder, as well as whether any current hip disorder had its clinical onset during service or was due to an event or incident of his active service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental condition and vision loss, finding that there is no current disability for VA purposes.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection for erosive interdigit talus blastomycetous xerosis of both hands as there was no legal merit to the claim due to a final Board decision denying such.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death in December 2003, and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.,The Board also denied the appellant's claim for VA death pension benefits in December 2003, and no new and material evidence has been received to reopen this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's anemia is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from St. Joseph Medical Center and East Houston Regional Medical Center.

The Veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of compensation benefits was denied because it was not received within the required 180-day period following notification of the debt.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.