Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's pericarditis was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor is it presumed to be due to asbestos exposure. The opinion of the VA examiner indicated that there is no evidence linking pericarditis to either CLL or asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's acute myelogenous leukemia is granted service connection, but the initial rating for diabetes mellitus type II remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammer toe deformities was already rated at the highest possible schedular rating due to pre-existing disability, and further increase in rating is denied.

The Veteran's arthritis of the right great toe has been rated as moderately severe, warranting a 20% disability rating since November 20, 2002.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to address whether he currently suffers from insomnia and if it is distinct from his psychiatric symptoms of chronic sleep impairment. The effective date for the grant of TDIU remains under review.

The Board found that the Veteran's current neck disability is not related to an injury in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's Addison's disease was not productive of criteria required for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent under the applicable VA rating criteria prior to January 21, 2009.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the service-connected reflux esophagitis with peptic ulcer symptoms, which is the maximum schedular disability rating under Diagnostic Code 7305.

The Veteran's right retropatellar pain syndrome was initially rated as non-compensable, but from December 14, 2006 to May 27, 2009, he received a 10% rating for his disability.

The Veteran's umbilical hernia was diagnosed during active service and granted service connection. For his left hand laceration, the initial compensable disability rating of zero percent is upheld, with no extraschedular consideration needed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any right leg injury, left leg injury, and gastrointestinal disability, to include Barrett's Esophagus.

The Veteran's psoriatic arthritis of the hands and feet has been granted initial noncompensable disability ratings, effective from November 1, 2008.

The Board found no evidence of a causal connection between the Veteran's claimed bilateral PVD, with extensive vascular calcification, and his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's left knee condition has been manifested by limited extension and flexion, with pain. The RO granted service connection for patellofemoral degenerative changes of the left knee and assigned a 10 percent evaluation effective June 19, 2008.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his duodenal ulcer, finding that the disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7305.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current decreased vision in his right eye is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hip disorders, including osteoarthritis and snapping hip syndrome, are not related to her service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions had their onset during service or were otherwise related to any incident in service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected traumatic amputation, terminal phalanx, left middle finger (long finger disability) and also granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of motion of the left long finger. The current ratings are considered adequate to describe the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) due to asbestos exposure is granted.

The Veteran's left hip disorder was not incurred in service and is not related to his service-connected low back strain. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a connection between the Veteran's current left hip disorder and his military service.