Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's joint pain and bilateral hand disability are not related to active service, including any exposure to lead paint in service. The claims were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed nose and eye conditions are not service-connected due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left Achilles tendonitis, which is the highest schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271. The Veteran's symptoms have been characterized by marked limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disability and an increased rating for infectious hepatitis. The Veteran does not have current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for an increase in the rating for residual repair of right lower eyelid entropion and lateral tarsal strip of the left eye with bilateral senile ectropion.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing and further development. The Veteran's claims for service connection are not decided at this time.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic low back disorder or arthritis during service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Veteran's left trigeminal neuralgia and migraine headaches have been rated, but the claims for higher ratings remain denied.

The Veteran's ventral hernia is currently rated at 20 percent, effective July 14, 2008. The bowel condition associated with the ventral hernia is currently rated at 10 percent, effective May 14, 2010.,Both conditions are rated under Diagnostic Codes for disabilities of the abdominal and retroperitoneal viscera.

The Board found that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for Osgood-Schlatter's disease, as the Veteran's testimony was both cumulative and redundant of previous statements.

The Board granted higher 20 percent ratings for the left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from an earlier effective date of May 4, 2009. The TDIU claim was also granted with an effective date of May 4, 2009.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses due to lack of a medical emergency and unavailability of VA facilities, despite the Veteran preferring private treatment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's colon cancer is related to his service, including exposure to herbicides and/or ionizing radiation. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's pleural plaques were rated at 10% from July 2008 to November 3, 2010. The rating was reduced to noncompensable effective November 3, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 1606, Title 10, United States Code due to a lack of current eligibility based on DoD determinations.

The Veteran's corneal dystrophy, status post-bilateral penetrating keratoplasties is manifested by bilateral aphakia with right eye visual acuity of 20/70 and left eye visual acuity of 20/80. The Board has determined that the criteria for a 40 percent rating have been met.

The Board found that the Veteran's cold injury residuals do not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent for either lower extremity.,Both feet were evaluated under Diagnostic Code 7122, which requires two or more symptoms such as tissue loss, nail abnormalities, color changes, locally impaired sensation, hyperhidrosis, and x-ray abnormalities (osteoporosis, subarticular punched out lesions, or osteoarthritis) to warrant a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected transverse stress fracture of the left proximal tibia results in disability that is no worse than slight impairment, and thus does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis of multiple joints, including in the neck, ankles, shoulders, hands, wrists, and knees, warrants a 10 percent rating for each affected joint prior to February 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to an inactive skin condition during the examination, and to determine if the current skin condition is a progression of or separate from tinea infection shown in service.